I was not going to comment on last weeks Armed Forces Week
here in Rutland for fear of a knock on the door by the
local police.
But now I have seen ex Mayor Paul Beech has spoken publicly
about the event and the poor effort by Rutland County Council
who staged this event I will.
Last Monday's flag raising ceremony was crap!
I can only assume the soldiers did not know how to tie a flag
as it was pre-tied and hung on the ground for some time before
the start of the very quick ceremony.
Cllr Charlotte L Vernon (Conservative Chairman) could not be
heard or understood by anyone, a pathetic public speaker
even with a PA System.
I wonder why Rutland County Council even bothered?
People should not be afraid to criticise this crap effort by Rutland County Council
because this is not an Armistice Day, Remembrance Sunday Event.
It is a political celebration of the Armed Forces, rather like the sort
of thing you would see in Russia or China without the tanks and guns for now.
It was the only event of the week.
I would have liked to have seen something similar as last year.
I don't believe Rutland County Council should spend any large sum of public money.
Oakham Town Council spent a fortune giving the freedom of the town to the regiment
based at St George's Barrack and on the same day the BBC reported the government
was moving them away!
Whilst I have great respect for what the armed services have done in the past, I can not
say that the majority of the residents of Oakham are thrilled each time their is a military
parade in through the town.
The last time the Army Cadets and The ATC marched I heard groans of "oh not another
parade"
What I think is a disgrace and would be at any time of the year was
All Saints Church Oakham felt it appropriate during the festival to dance and
sing on and around Oakham's War Memorial.
Most residents respect the War Memorial, I have many times heard parents asking
small children not to sit on the steps and then explain why.
Whilst on the subject of the Consecrated Church Yard, I am pleased Oakham Town Council has after many years finally fitted enough bollards to stop people driving and parking on the graves.
This included Councillors and their friends and family.
Mr Beech Says
While the nation prepared to celebrate and commemorate Armed Forces Week, all we had in Rutland was a half hearted attempt to show support for our combined forces and veterans in what can only be described as a 'pathetic show' and an embarrassment. On the 'Armed Forces Week' website it published nearly 400 events throughout the nation but not one mention from Rutland, in a county that now has more than 3,000 military personal working and living in it.
The advanced warning of the ceremony in Oakham was 'whispered' by Rutland County Council to the media when what we should really have seen were banners placed strategically around the county advertising the ceremony, just like the one's announcing Oakham Festival, concerts and a beer festival.
The media had announced that the ceremony was to start at 10:30am. So having arrived at 10:20, in what we thought was plenty of time for it all to begin, we were treated to the closing lines of an address by the chairman of the country council. Unfortunately, there was not enough of her address for us to understand the true context of her words.
In the press last week it announced that the council leader would be addressing '....invited guests'. Surely the event should have been publicised as 'open to the public' so that we could show our support and that it was not just for those on the council's 'preferred' listings. And is the library the only place in Oakham we have a flagpole or is it simply because it's more convenient for councillors to trudge the 100 yards or so from Catmose?
Report
By paulbeech at 09:55 on 02/07/13
Armed Forces Day, Oakham, Rutland, Photographs
Inspector Lou Cordiner has replaced former Rutland LPU commander,
Inspector Kam Mistry
Armed Forces Day Flag outside Rutland County Library Oakham Rutland.
Rutland County Council, Oakham Town Council and military personnel from
army base Kendrew Barracks joined together to raise a flag in support of
Armed Forces Day
Dr Laurence Howard, Lord Lieutenant of Rutland
Dr Laurence Howard, Lord Lieutenant of Rutland
Cllr Edward Baines Tory Deputy Chairman Rutland County Council
and Inspector Lou Cordiner Rutland LPU commander Leicestershire Police
Cllr Adam Lowe Oakham Mayor
The Royal British Legion
Cllr Edward Baines Tory Deputy Chairman of Rutland County Council
Cllr John Nowell Oakham Town Council
Dr Laurence Howard, Lord Lieutenant of Rutland
High Sheriff of Rutland Mrs Trish Ruddle
Inspector Lou Cordiner Rutland LPU commander Leicestershire Police, Cllr Adam Lowe Oakham Mayor
Oakham Town Council and Mrs Lowe.
Leicestershire Police
Mrs Lowe, Mrs Charlotte L Vernon Chairman of Rutland County Council, ex Mayor of Oakham Lucas
Rob Persani Rutland Radio
