Paolo’s passion is a fantastic asset (From Swindon Advertiser)

Paolo’s passion is a fantastic asset

4:23pm Friday 17th February 2012 in Letters

Thank you Mr Ravenscroft for pointing me in the direction of Egypt, I was actually there two years ago (Letters, February 13).

First of all it is always very sad to hear of any loss of life wherever it might happen, but I feel you have totally lost the plot. I am convinced the sad loss of life was caused by a group of people that were not football fans, brought together under the canopy of ‘football' in a very volatile part of the world, and was a disaster waiting to happen. And of course there were many innocent people who lost their lives. This could have happened in a number of countries at a number of venues, not necessarily football orientated.

On your subject of clichés of passion and commitment, I was privileged to be able to give some spare time to coaching pupils of Broad Hinton and Avebury Junior School the skills of playing football and the importance of playing as a team. I tried to teach them to be enthusiastic and equally to display passion, both on and off the football field, and it was always apparent to me that the most passionate players stood out from the rest, even at that very young age.

I would like to point out the article in the Sports Column of Tuesday’s Adver from Mr Steve Evans, Crawley Town Manager, “Swindon Town are a quality team with a number of exceptional players, and a big name but very talented manager in Paolo di Canio. He gets knocked by many for his enthusiasm and passion but for me it is fantastic to see.”

I believe Mr Di Canio has proved to all the Swindon Town supporters and team he is a man of strong principles as displayed with the Clarke situation. He also has a human side displayed in the sad loss of his father, and for me the way the Swindon Town team supported their manager at that very sad time, portrays to me he is the ‘complete package’. I believe the ban imposed on Mr Di Canio will make him even more determined to prove his critics wrong.

So hang on in there Mr Di Canio, you are doing a magnificent job.

John Fell Wroughton Swindon

British rail plea

A recent article in the Adver featured First Great Western or should it be called Failed Great Western as our beleaguered inefficient train operator has stated that it is not intending to re apply for another franchise when it shortly comes to an end, as it would much rather have a longer 15 year one granted by the coalition Government.

What an unmitigated disaster this would be for regular rail passengers, with years of yet more rocketing fares, overcrowding from the profit hungry FGW and other operators nationwide, with season tickets going up even further on top of the ridiculous level that they are now currently set at.

This is actually the most opportune time for the fare paying public to make a stand and say enough is enough and sign the petition to return our inefficient, expensive and fragmented network back to state ownership by bringing back British Rail, thus returning it to the days when it was both accountable to the passenger, with the underlying profit motive not being the be all and end all.

I was most grateful to the Adver recently for printing two of my letters on the subject, and I would like them now to consider signing the petition on line to bring back British Rail.

Speaking as an ex-railwayman from a railway family and a frequent rail user, I for one cannot stomach the thought of yet another protracted 15 year period of misery, and now is the right time to look at the current shambles, that we, the fare paying public, have been left with and heed my passionate plea to sign the Government on line petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/630 and the dedicated website at www.bringbackbritishrail.org and also on the Twitter feed at Twitter@bringbackBR.

It should of course be remembered that these franchised operators are already heavily subsidised from the public purse, which seems to mean that this money goes towards higher profits for them and also for a hand full of shareholders, at the expense of the fare paying public, whilst at the same time making minimal investment in improvements. So, it is vital for as many people as possible to sign the petition before the closing date of 4th August 2012.

G A Woodward Nelson Street Swindon

No ranting here

Before I deal with Des Morgan’s cheap jibes (‘Monarchy lasts’, Letters, Feb 9), I would like to take the Editor of the Adver to task. I refer to his labelling my previous letter as a ‘Right Royal Rant’.

It was not a rant, if it were it would not have seen the light of day. It had questions which Des Morgan failed to address. I expected more from him. What has this country descended to when editors and lacky correspondents attempt to mock others for expressing dissenting views?

Des Morgan states that my letter ‘made him laugh’, because I asked so many questions, most of which he studiously avoided answering. Isn’t it rather rich coming from Des Morgan, he the over regular, zealous Adver correspondent, who has for many years bombarded local councillors with question after question, regarding Wi Fi schemes among other things?

Des Morgan holds up the monarchy as a paragon of virtue. Alas, no. The truth is otherwise. The royals have a dismal record in this respect. Does it please you that in 2010 the Queen, the richest woman in the world, tried to grab the millions of pounds allocated to the poorest pensioners for keeping themselves warm throughout winter in order to pay for palace repairs? Shame on her!

Does it please you that down the years she has entertained many ruthless dictators who had blood on their hands (Pinochet for one)?

I do hope you have not found all these questions too taxing, Des Morgan? After all you’ve pestered the local council enough with them.

J Adams Bloomsbury Swindon

Help pup grow

Guide Dogs for the Blind are looking for Volunteer Puppy Walkers in the Swindon area which includes Chippenham, Cirencester, Malmesbury, Marlborough and Royal Wootton Bassett.

The guide dog puppy will live with you for about 14 months and the role is to socialise the puppy so that it can go on to become a guide dog for a visually impaired person.

For more details please call 0845 371 7771(local rate call). By being a puppy walker you can help someone like me to gain their mobility and independence.

Swindon Guide Dogs are also holding an Awareness Day/Collection on Saturday 10th March in the Brunel Centre between 9am and 5pm and we will have some guide dogs puppies there, on and off, from 10am until 3pm so you can meet the pups and find out from the puppy walkers more about the role.

Alan Fletcher Chair, Swindon Guide Dogs for the Blind Godwin Road Stratton Swindon

Court disaster

In reply to my letter published on February 7, enquiring whether or not The Supreme Court exists in England, I would like to thank Geoffrey Heaford for clarifying the issue on 10th February. He states that, “Yes indeed we do have a Supreme Court; it has been in existence since 2009”.

Right, we’ve sorted that one out then, but his answer begs another question. What is the point of this body? It does not seem very ‘supreme’ to me when it can be overruled by a bunch of unelected muppets in Europe, as in the Abu Qatada case.

I think that a renaming ceremony is in order. May I suggest The Supine Court?

C J Meek Cloche Way Swindon

Here to help

The National Organisation of the Widowed (NOW), formerly the National Association of Widows, which provides support to men and women of all ages who have lost a life partner through bereavement, can help to reduce loneliness.

NOW is a charity that exists to support all those who have lost a partner. We are not a counselling service but an organisation run by the widowed which offers support and friendship from people who have experienced a similar loss and understand the problems. The major benefit we can offer is friendship and the social life that members provide. Branches are in many towns and cities.

The local branch in the Swindon area meets in the Community Centre, Emlyn Square, Swindon on the second Monday of each month from 1.45pm to 3.45pm, where we have numerous activities such as speakers and quizzes, coupled with a chat over a cup of tea and a biscuit. We have a lunch each month and arrange trips to theatres and other places of interest. We also try to arrange at least one holiday per year.

We hope you will be able to give us a mention in your paper as we feel there many people out there who could benefit from our organisation.

Ann Humby Chairperson Tel: 01793 497081 Head office tel: 0845 8382261