The day compassion died
THE feelings of a grieving family were trampled underfoot at a funeral when a jobsworth halted the service after two brothers went to comfort their ‘ vulnerable’ mum.
A member of the crematorium staff jumped in and redcarded mourners at the funeral of Alan Wright in Milton Keynes; his sons had committed the crime of moving their chairs to be close to their mum, Mr Wright’s widow who was ‘ lost’.
Unsurprisingly, a video of the proceedings has gone viral and Little Britain officialdom has been left red- faced and whinging over the over- reaction; yet another side effect of Covid- 19.
Current government regulations restrict 30 people to attend a funeral but insists social distancing to be strictly adhered to – although the apologetic council, which runs Crownhill Crematorium, said it normally understood if one family member needed to comfort a relative.
And son Craig Bicknell pointed out he could have hugged his mum in her home or at the pub and have travelled on public transport to do so… but not at such a key moment when emotions understandably run high.
He later said he had warned the crematorium staff he would need to comfort his mother ‘ at some point’ – and moved his chair, as did his brother, when they saw her breakdown, adding she was ‘ lost, empty, and so upset.”
The film footage shows a member of staff storming in to tell the brothers to put the chairs back and take up their original positions. The employee, who is possibly retraining to work for the parks department to tell people to keep off the grass, said: “You can’t move the chairs, you were told.”
Milton Keynes Council has said sorry for the ‘ upset’ caused to the family. “We don’t normally step in if a guest needs to be comforted by another family member and in this instance should have taken a more considered approach.”
The service did continue but the experience has left the family angry – and fighting to get the rules changed to allow a little compassion. Craig said: “We know this is the new way of living, we know there are rules to be adhered to; but if we can change this, we have achieved something.”
Holding out for a hero
Release of the new James Bond film ‘ No Time to Die’ – the last to feature Daniel Craig as secret agent 007 – has been delayed until April next year; having already been shunted from last April until an intended screening across UK cinemas next month.
The film’s website announced the move, saying it was to allow the new 007 outing to be seen by a ‘ worldwide theatrical audience’ although it understood the fans would be shaken and not stirred by the delay.
And a new Bond movie remains big business; the last offering ‘ Spectre’ took around £ 690 million at the box office around the globe.
Boris Johnson has urged people arm themselves with a bucket of popcorn and get back to the cinema following the news that international group Cineworld is to temporarily close UK and US theatres, affecting 45,000 jobs.
The chain, which employs some 5,500 people in Britain, has been hit by the lack of a blockbuster to lure customers into theatres, the announcement coming after the news 007 was not making an appearance this year.
The Prime Minister said he would ‘ encourage’ film fans to go out to cinemas, ‘ enjoy themselves’ and support the industry.
Boris has enjoyed being a bit of a screen star himself this week, having to make his Tory party speech to a virtual audience, Covid- 19 having forced annual party conferences to embrace the powers of technology to reach out to the faithful.
The PM wants a starring role in a new feature coming to the UK, working title ‘ new Jerusalem’, and a storyline of opportunity for all with improved housing and healthcare.
He promised a bright future for the country and beating coronavirus together would allow the return of liberty and the start of Britain flourishing again. Supporters will again see Boris as licenced to thrill; especially after dismissing Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer as ‘ Captain Hindsight’.
Bread and butter
Staple of the British breakfast table and many a sandwich box, the makers of 134- year- old Hovis could be taken over by Italian- based Newlat Food, which has made a bid to owners.
Some crumbs of comfort from the pasta maker ( honest!); it has told shareholders of Hovis Holdings is sees the product as having a great tradition and a highly recognisable brand in the UK – while the acquisition would help it become a food giant in Europe.
Founded in 1886 in Macclesfield, Hovis was named following a national competition. It originated after a miller found a way of preparing flour that preserved the nutrients in the wheatgerm – the name is a contraction of Latin phrase ‘ Hominis Vis’, meaning ‘ strength of Man’.
Hovis also provides a slice of cinematic history. At the centre of one of the best- loved British television commercials, the advert was made in 1973 by Ridley Scott – launching the career of one of the world’s most renowned and successful film directors.
The storyline features a boy pushing a cycle uphill along the cobbled streets of a town ‘ oop north’, before freewheeling down to the sound of a brass band playing a version of Dvorak’s New World Symphony’.
A stitch in time
And finally, Rolling Stones guitarist and retired hellraiser Ronnie Wood has revealed his skills with knitting needles after quitting a merry- goround of booze and drugs.
While Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are the band’s ‘ Glimmer Twins’, 73- year- old Ronnie was the wingman for Richards and the rock and roll party lifestyle.
Ronnie, who is also a celebrated artist, has revealed he learned to knit while holding wool for his mum, who taught him the plain stitch and he now spends evenings at home knitting ‘ endless’ scarves.
Sober for 10 years and now married to theatre producer Sally, the couple have fouryearold twin daughters, the musician also he developed another habit while getting back on track… coffee.
He said he was an expresso man who developed a taste for coffee while in rehab and was a ‘ living, walking’ example of the beverage being good for you.