I was among the first to drink in Panorama pub
HAVING read the Echo feature (“The ‘small village pub’ tucked away at the heart of a city centre”, November 18), I take my hat off to the current owner of the Traders Tavern (formerly Panorama). Her achievement in running a good old fashioned pub (the modern versions should be charged under the blasphemy act for describing themselves as pubs) is as rare as a politician passing a polygraph test.
I have fond memories of the old Panorama, chief among them being introduced to Worthington’s best bitter truly the nectar of the gods.
If my memory serves me rightly the Panorama is nearer 50 years old as it coincides with the final stages of the demolition of Cardiff’s old Newtown district. As an ex-inmate of this area the imminent closure of such stellar boozers as Fitzy’s and the Irish club saw the old West Dock in Herbert Street as our last port of call. As quite a few of my fellow reprobates had already moved to the new estates like Pentrebane and Trowbridge (the old fellah stuck out for Tremorfa which meant we were the third last family to leave Newtown, our arrival in Tremorfa like the Clampetts in Beverly Hills causing property prices to dive) we were all dispersed throughout Cardiff so on weekends used to meet in the old Taff Vale, another classic boozer. We were all present at the opening night of the Panorama.
I am tempted to visit the old Panorama but I have been teetotal for more than 40 years and would have to drink coffee which would result in me being able to leave under my own steam instead of my traditional exit in those days, to wit “the bum’s rush”.
James Barry
Gabalfa, Cardiff
Boris and Jeremy failed to impress
I WAS not impressed by either party leader in the ITV debate. Surprisingly,
I was more impressed by Sturgeon, Swinson and Farage later in the evening.
After 10 years of Tory austerity measures and Brexit uncertainty, Boris displayed no empathy with, or understanding of, the daily struggle faced by millions of Brits to make ends meet. It was also clear to me Boris does not understand the implications of his so-called “fantastic deal”, especially in relation to the border in the Irish Sea.
Having purged its moderate MPs, the Tory Party has morphed into a right-wing Brexit party led by a PM mired in controversy.
Unfortunately, Labour has moved to the extreme left of centre with a leader who refuses to say if he wants to remain in or leave the EU. At least the Lib Dems are unambiguous, being committed to remain.
Brexit has already caused untold damage to the EU and UK economies and energised anti-EU parties which threaten to tear Europe apart.
This at a time when global issues such as international cybercrime, global debt, financial fraud, trade wars, climate change, terrorism and migration can only be tackled by international cooperation, coordination and control.
In a rapidly changing world, the UK wastes time, money and resources preparing for a post-Brexit fantasy land, while China, the US and Russia, for example, are developing frightening hi-tech weapons of mass destruction.
It only requires a computer error or operator’s mistake to open the gates of hell Bryan D Prescott
It only requires a computer error or operator’s mistake to open the gates of hell and release the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – war, conquest, famine and disease.
It should be obvious to anyone with half a brain that Johnson, Gove and Rees-Mogg couldn’t give a damn about Wales. Their aim is to take back control and enrich their millionaire backers.
Unfortunately, there is little that we pawns on the global chessboard can do except vote for the party manifesto that best reflects our needs and expectations and trust the politicians to do what they promised.
Bryan D Prescott Caerphilly