Nelson’s Column: Keeping an eye on the nation
The man who keeps a watchful eye on the heart of the Nation
COUNTY, BUSINESS AND SCHOOL SLOGANS
Have
you noticed how schools and businesses, even county councils, nearly all have silly statements emblazoned outside their property, on their boundaries and on headed notepaper? Having been in the trade I am always suspicious of any school which claims to be “caring”, a word which should be taken for granted, but when it has to be stated, it usually conceals problems of various magnitudes. Believe me!
“Welcome to *******” is perfectly acceptable but what about the following crass statements?
“Leeds — Live it, love it.” “Liverpool — the world in one city.” “Nottinghamshire — N” (You read it correctly! What happened to poor old Robin Hood?).
“Newcastle/gateshead — World class culture.”
On the other hand a few are simple and some are quite clever:
“Warwickshire — Shakespeare’s county.”
“Derbyshire and the Peak District — take a peak.”
“Suffolk — Choose Suffolk, as scene on the tube” (no, not a spelling mistake).
A “de luxe” car once actually meant something but not any more. My humble advice is to take no notice of slogans.
BREXIT?
Initial
euphoria has been tempered by the political fallout. Not for nothing did the Bilderbergers meet in Dresden just before the referendum. If you don’t know anything about them, take a look on the internet and wonder why everything they do is top secret.
Of one thing you can be quite certain, there are invisible forces working behind the scenes who don’t want England outside the European Union. Freedom is a word they don’t understand and democracy is not a word you will find in their political vocabulary. Unbelievably, we even heard an EU leader describe the Brexit result as “undemocratic” — and he believed it! Incredible!
MUSIC BY ANOTHER NAME
Anne
Peakall from New South Wales in Australia responded to the comments about modern classical music in the Spring 2016 issue, and thinks we need a new name for it. Does anyone have any bright suggestions?
WISE WORDS
Thomas
Sowell is a black American economist and philosopher with many fine quotes to his name. One in particular appealed to me: “Much of the social history of the western world over the past three decades, has been a history of replacing what worked with what sounded good.” Hear, hear!
NELSON AT OLD TRAFFORD
When England’s cricket team beat Pakistan at Old Trafford, Manchester, last summer, among the crowd were two women with “I Love Nelson’s Column” emblazoned on their T-shirts. I’m sure it wasn’t an appreciation of this particular column but I did once bowl a future England international at school. He expected an out-swinger which is what I tried to bowl but in attempting to hit me for six he missed it completely as my cunning delivery mysteriously turned into an in-swinger and demolished his middle stump. I’ve dined out a few times on that story!
TRANSPORT EVOLUTION?
One hundred years ago most people rode a horse and only the rich had a car. Nowadays this role has been completely reversed!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. FAIERS
Our founder and former editor, Roy Faiers, reached his 90th birthday recently. During his time here he personally appointed all the current staff. Both full-time and part-time, we are 11 in total and between us proudly celebrate more than 250 years’ experience at the magazine. We also get on very well together and wonder if this is a record?