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Divorce proceedings

Well here we are at long last.

Triggering Article 50 to start the whole process of our divorce from the corrupt EU. A letter has been delivered to Donald Tusk, who is the President of the European Council.

Yes we still have a vast number of Remainers or Remoaners as I prefer to call them. These include such hasbeens and wannabees as Heseltine, Blair, Farrow, Nick Clegg and John Major.

The mind boggles that these so-called eminent ex and current members of Parliament still have a job. If that is what you can call it.

One of the great things that will happen is we can straight away start getting rid of some of the stupid regulations which have been forced on us by the EU, just some of which are the removal of incandescent light bulbs, vacuum cleaners with motors of more than 1,600 amps, bent bananas and so many more pathetic regulations.

Where did these stupid ideas come from, what idiots thought that these were such wonderful ideas?

Of course, we still have the Labour Party, who in their wisdom insist on having a vote on six principles of our actually leaving (I didn’t realise that Labour had any principles at all).

After all who runs the Labour Party? Well, it certainly isn’t the elected members, that’s for sure. So who does?

I think if we are totally honest we really know its the big union bosses. Yes, the same ones who call their membership out on strike to cause chaos.

But do they themselves lose any money? You have to be joking. Most of them are on more money than the Prime Minister is.

It’s all done as a way of causing political mayhem. That is their only interest. I know from first hand experience just how the unions work, and it cost me my employment. Totally corrupt and incompetent.

Thank God we didn’t go into the Euro, because if we had then our goose would have been well and truly cooked.

The Euro is and always has been a catastrophe waiting to happen and for countries such as Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal and even Ireland it has been catastrophic.

Just thank God we have some pretty astute people who are going to negotiate for us.

And when it is all done and dusted we should then submit to the EU our bill for leaving. Yes, you heard me correctly.

Instead of paying them to leave we should ask for £60billion in return for all our money which they, through total incompetence, have wasted. I am serious my friends and fellow Brits. It will be our turn to call the tune then.

DAVID COLLINS

Blake Crescent

Swindon

Correct use of ‘hero’

Re Gill Harris’ column: “The Heroes at the heart of the NHS” (Adver 30/3/17).

Words, especially those in everyday usage, often change meaning down the years/centuries, thanks mainly to us, the great unwashed (metaphorically speaking of course), rather than the scholars, word purists and the ruling classes.

For example, “nightmare” originally meant an evil female spirit who sat upon her victims until they asphyxiated. These days it’s overused so much (the journey was a nightmare, the interview was a nightmare etc), its original meaning long gone, and has become meaningless and cliched.

Another example is the much-abused word “hero”.

“Heroes of the NHS” headlines Gill Harris in her latest article.

While one is aware that they do a damn good job – in most cases, even seem like heroes – they are not! “Hero” is a misnomer in this case, unless of course an off-duty doctor, paramedic or nurse risks their very lives saving another’s.

We naturally admire them because, in general, they make us better, even saving lives, but during the process do not risk their own nor should be expected to.

Does this matter? I believe so.

It demeans the actions of the real heroes. Notice I said ‘real heroes’ to emphasize a point when the word, hero, standing alone should have sufficed, but does not.

It is interesting to note the events after the great battle at Rorke’s Drift, south Africa, a brutal, intense and bloody battle, two centuries ago when British soldiers fighting on behalf of the Royal British Empire won (and fought mainly at night contrary to Hollywood’s version-making. It would be, I suggest, even more terrifying!).

There were so many VCs that some senior army military personnel at the time argued during, at times heated debates, that they didn’t deserve the Victoria Cross simply because they were there and there was nowhere else to go. They had a point.

JEFF ADAMS

Bloomsbury

Swindon

A dangerous precedent

In your report (1st April) on the “Challenges ahead for the NHS” you state that the Chief Executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens (a lay manager), would be asking GPs “to cut down on the number of patient referrals to hospitals with other options such as physio encouraged instead”. This is a dangerous precedent.

First, no lay person should be asking, advising or even suggesting (let alone making it appear to be a ‘directive’) what any doctor should, or should not, be advising any patient.

There are many reasons why patients are referred to hospital, which may not result in specialist treatment.

Some are referred because either the doctor or patient is concerned that the symptoms might indicate ‘something serious’.

Some want reassurance that it is not something serious or does not need an operation.

I am sure that by far the majority of GP referrals are reasonable.

Second, lay people should not be advising specific treatments, such as physio.

In some instances it has been suggested that physio should be prescribed instead of Total Hip Replacement.

Physiotherapy is not an alternative to surgery; it is an adjunct to surgery (both before and after).

Depending on individual circumstances, it might be a complete waste of time and money (for both patient and physio – and the NHS) and, by delaying surgery, could reduce the chances its success.

Only doctors can advise individual patients what they consider to be best for that particular patient at that particular time.

It is the Government’s job to provide appropriate and adequate resources (both manpower and money); and it is ‘management’s’ job to facilitate the delivery of the service.

Neither should try to dictate specific patterns of care.

MALCOLM MORRISON

(retired orthopaedic surgeon)

Prospect Hill

Swindon

Fantastic performance

I wish to write to congratulate Rising Aspirations Academy of Performing Arts on their performance of Whistle down the Wind, a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman at the Wyvern Theatre on Saturday.

The company of young people between the ages of three and 18 years old performed this show with great passion. Although at times some of the singing was slightly ‘off key’ (which would be expected), you were clearly able to see how much they were putting everything possible into what they were doing.

This was a very tight budget performance with no spectacular stage sets but that really did not matter and the performance was backed by a superb live band in the pit.

The show starred John Sheehy, who played the role of The Man and was from Ireland’s version of The Voice.

He gave some powerful performances but the youngsters Caitlin and Lloyd jelled well together in the roles of Candy and Amos during their performance of the song Tire Tracks and Broken Hearts, which was brought to fame by singer Bonnie Tyler.

They both gave incredible performances and are stars of the future to look out for.

The only let-down with the show itself was the sound quality.

Most of the matinee performance, many of the youngsters on stage were not heard including those with mics and the small amount of dialogue in the show was completely missed.

All in all a superb performance from this group of rising talent. Congratulations to everyone at Rising Aspirations on their performance.

RICKIE LEYTON

Briarswood Court

Liden

Swindon

Praise for festival

The Adver has given super coverage of Swindon Music Festival before, during and after the event.

Photos and results have been prominent in every edition. Everyone who took part either as performers with the teachers, family and friends and the Festival Committee must be really pleased to have your support.

The festival showcases the excellence of music across all levels.

As Geoff Walters, the Festival Chairman, said on the final Championship evening “It’s like a continuous concert from 9am to 9.30pm every day with short breaks for refreshments.”

So why were audiences so small?

JOHN DAVIES

Byron Avenue

Royal Wootton Bassett