They come over here - using our NHS

In the aftermath of the EU elections, it is not surprising that immigration and immigrants are featuring prominently in the news - ad nauseum. Also rearing its ugly head again is that hoary old chestnut - access to the NHS by all these 'foreigners coming over here and using our medical services'. Out of interest I've reread what the architect of the NHS, Aneurin Bevan, had to say about this very issue in his book 'In Place of Fear' and I've copied the relevant passages below. Obviously the numbers have changed since he wrote this in the early 1950s but I think his philosophy is still valid. I particularly like his phrase 'rejoicing at the opportunity to practice a civilised principle'. Increasingly we seem, as a society, to be incapable of taking this stance on anything. We are all the poorer for not being able to do so.

One of the consequences of the universality of the British Health Service is the free treatment of foreign visitors. This has given rise to a great deal of criticism, most of it ill-informed and some of it deliberately mischievous. Why should people come to Britain and enjoy the benefits of the free Health Service when they do not subscribe to the national revenues? So the argument goes. No doubt a little of this objection is still based on the confusion about contributions to which I have referred. The fact is, of course, that visitors to Britain subscribe to the national revenues as soon as they start consuming certain commodities, drink and tobacco for example, and entertainment. They make no direct contribution to the cost of the Health Service any more than does a British citizen.

However, there are a number of more potent reasons why it would be unwise as well as mean to withhold the free service from the visitor to Britain. How do we distinguish a visitor from anybody else? Are British citizens to carry means of identification everywhere to prove that they are not visitors? For if the sheep are to be separated from the goats both must be classified. What began as an attempt to keep the Health Service for ourselves would end by being a nuisance to everybody. Happily, this is one of those occasions when generosity and convenience march together. The cost of looking after the visitor who falls ill cannot amount to more than a negligible fraction of £399,000,000, the total cost of the Health Service. It is not difficult to arrive at an approximate estimate. All we have to do is look up the number of visitors to Great Britain during one year and assume they would make the same use of the Health Service as a similar number of Britishers. Divide the total cost of the Service by the population and you get the answer. I had the estimate taken out and it amounted to about £200,000 a year.Obviously this is an overestimate because people who go for holidays are not likely to need a doctor’s attention as much as others. However, there it is. for what it is worth and you will see it does not justify the fuss that has been made about it.

The whole agitation has a nasty taste. Instead of rejoicing at the opportunity to practice a civilized principle, Conservatives have tried to exploit the most disreputable emotions in this among many other attempts to discredit socialized medicine.

Naturally when Britons go abroad they are incensed because they are not similarly treated if they need the attention of a doctor. But that also I am convinced will come when other nations follow our example and have health services of their own. When that happens we shall be able to work out schemes of reciprocity, and yet one more amenity will have been added to social intercourse. In the meantime let us keep in mind that, here, example is better than precept.

Now you see me, now you don't.

Josh and his nanny have difficulty with the basic premise of the hide part of 'Hide and Seek'.

The truth is out..........

Isn't it strange the way that daughters can wheedle secrets out of their fathers? Remember my mentioning a while back that I'd taken to product endorsement to earn a little money to help me run my blog? Well, I've gone a little further than that and have done some male modelling. I normally hide my well-sculptured pectoral 6-pack and rippling biceps under a rather shapeless jumper in order not to attract attention to my finely chiselled physique. But hard times demand drastic actions and I soon got in deeper than I had intended. Read on...

They said "Get your shirt off for the Korean version of Men's Health" and "It won't be available in the UK". Such naivety and trust on my part: such duplicity on theirs. I understand now that the UK edition comes out soon so, as a pre-emptive measure, I thought I'd better get it out first to minimise the shock. Hence my paternal confession. You know, I really don't think the hassle has been worth the 2 kgs of Kimchi I got as my fee. Fermented garlicky cabbage anyone?

The EU results are in.

The results for the South West EU constituency are in and I'm pleased to say that the Green Party were successful in winning one of the six seats being contested. This is good news as the candidate, Molly Cato, will be an excellent advocate for us in Brussels. I've met her just the once and she impressed me with her energy and enthusiasm. She is definitely not a single-issue politician and it will be interesting following her progress.

The turn-out of 36.9% is surprisingly low given the publicity that these elections have had. It is still a fact that the majority of the electorate cannot be motivated to get out and vote and that should be a concern to all with an interest in politics. For the record, here are the results:

One man went to mow, went to mow the graveyard.

Every so often I take my turn on a volunteer rota to mow the grass in the graveyard of our village church. I like doing it for a number of reasons: I get to become a 'boy racer' for a couple of hours speeding around on a ride-on mower and, in the process, I get to enjoy some fantastic views. I've been doing this for a few years now and, in that time, I've got to know the headstones 'on my patch' quite well. I always so 'hello' to those I actually knew in life and I regularly talk to total strangers.  I always find something to ponder upon as I whizz around. What was the deceased like? How did they die? What was their story? Here's a taste of just some I come across.

There are a few things about this headstone that intrigue me. Firstly, why the differing surnames for husband and wife? Secondly, what was Archibald Buller doing in the USA? Thirdly, the story of Hamilton Buller, of which I know a little. Hamilton was born locally, emigrated to Canada in 1913, joined the Canadian army in 1915, spent 3 years fighting in France, was invalided out due to being gassed and finally died in Stoke Climsland in 1919 of tuberculosis.

 

And here's a photograph of Hamilton Buller and one of his younger sisters, taken around 1908. I know exactly where they were standing when the photograph was taken and the backdrop is no longer one of industrial dereliction. The mine has long been closed and is now totally overgrown.

 

The Nathaniel Lobb named on this one also features on our WW1 memorial. He was awarded the Military Medal for some act of bravery but I've not been able to find out exactly for what. The Lobb family lived almost next door to where we live now and it is highly probable that Nathaniel visited our house. He may even have stood where I'm typing this.

 

Nathaniel Lobb was a career soldier and had served as a sapper in the Second Boer War. Here is his medal from that campaign - the Queen's South Africa Medal plus battle clasps - as they are displayed in the museum of the Royal Engineers at Chatham. In WW1 he was part of the Special Squad responsible for the introduction of gas warfare.......but that's another story.

 

One of the Pennington family of bell founders. They made the bells in the church and many for other churches in this part of the world. One of their foundries (they built temporary casting pits close to where the finished product was going to be hung) was just over the road, apparently, but no-one knows exactly where.

A breach of Health and Safety regulations?
Sacred
to the memory of
William Sampson
of the Parish of Phillack
in the County
He was killed in Redmoor Engine
Shaft thro' his comrades leaving a
piece of timber slip
thro' the lashings
April 7th 1835. Aged 31 years.Not that those responsible for the wording on the headstone bore a grudge! The accusatory tone still resonates after 175 years. Who were his careless comrades? Do their bones squirm in contrition and remorse?

The inscription reads:
Sacred
to the Memory of
Edward Weekes
(Late of Venterdon in this Parish)
Yeoman
Whose death was occasioned by a
fall from a horse April 29th 1833
Aged 30 Years
ALSO
Hannah Edward Weekes (His daughter)
Died November 2 1838
Age 5 3/4 YearsA quick calculation of the dates suggests that Edward Weekes' wife was in the final stages of pregnancy when her husband died. Presumably as the wife of a yeoman she was not left in dire straits but, nonetheless, it must have been very hard for her and even harder when her daughter died.

I've always felt for poor William Wilton, who died aged 80 in 1906. Within one month in 1870, he lost his wife Eliza on the 1st February and two children on 20th February, William aged 17 and Ellen, an infant. I can come up with a scenario for Eliza and Ellen as birth related deaths but why did William die on the same day as his sister? Perhaps all three had contracted some disease? Three deaths so close together cannot be coincidental

 

The deed is done.

My vote has been cast at what must be one of the smallest polling stations in the UK. A sobering thought that, in an elective democracy, it is at places like this that the ultimate political power is exercised. Let's hope that those going in throughout the day make the right choice.

 

Voting in the European Elections

I've thought long and hard about who I am going to vote for in the European election tomorrow and here are my thoughts on the choices available to me as a voter in the South West England European Parliament constituency. Just in case you've forgotten (I had), this constituency consists of the counties of Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. And, believe it or not, it also includes Gibraltar. You know, that rock at the southernmost tip of Spain.

Why am I voting?

Voting in the European election is important for four reasons. Firstly, it is contested on a proportional basis, meaning that those who vote for alternative parties are not just "wasting their vote" as is the case in the unrepresentative and apathy inducing Westminster system. Secondly, the turnout for Euro elections is embarrassingly low (33% in 2009) and I don't want to be counted amongst those who don't vote. Thirdly, whilst recognising all of the faults and the need for wholesale reform, I am still a strong believer in our links with Europe and want to maintain them. And, fourthly, I hold the old fashioned view that voting is a civic duty.

 

Who am I not going to vote for?

1 The Lib-Lab-Con establishment
The archaic electoral system used in our general elections has allowed the three Westminster establishment parties (the Lib-Lab-Cons) to run, what is in effect, a closed-shop. Time after time they have lied to and openly defied the wishes of the electorate, safe in the knowledge that alternative parties have virtually no chance of overturning their oligopoly  (ooh, I do like that word) on political power. The European election is an excellent opportunity for people to protest against the out-of-touch establishment, because under the Proportional Representation voting system every vote counts. In my opinion, voting for any of the 'big three' in these (and, to be frank, in any) elections is voting for the continuation of the establishment orthodoxy - and that's what got us where we are today.
 

2 UKIP

It looks as if UKIP stands a good chance of winning the most seats in the European Parliament, riding on a tide of political illiterates (I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but they are) who consider them some kind of "alternative" to the establishment orthodoxy. What these people fail to realise is that UKIP is even more fanatical about the right-wing Thatcherite economic orthodoxy of neoliberalism than the Lib-Lab-Con establishment, and that they are financed by a pack of former Tory party donors. One of the saddest indicators of the lack of political nonce of most UKIP supporters is that, as opinion polls consistently show, the vast majority of them actually favour the explicitly socialist policies of the NHS and of renationalising the rail network and energy companies. Despite this they are going to march off to the ballots in order to vote for a blatantly Thatcherite party with a burning ideological hatred of the public sector. Unbelievable!

 

 And let's not forget that the main reason for the rise of UKIP is that nobody in the Lib-Lab-Con Trio can offer a credible alternative that articulates public rage without playing on popular hatred. For that, you need vision, hope and real respect for the electorate. For that, you need politicians of stature. And those are things the Big 3 have yet to provide. In fact, I have grave doubts that they are capable of providing them.

 

3 An Independence from Europe Party
A party recently formed by a UKIP reject and with a single objective - let's get out of Europe. A sort of UKIP-lite party and not one that will get a vote from me.

 

4 The fascist fringe

It is incontestable that UKIP occupies the extreme-right authoritarian territory you would expect from a "Thatcherism on steroids" party. However they do tend to regularly expel people from the party when they express totally outrageous and openly fascist sentiments (mandatory abortions for disabled foetuses, suggesting black actors go to live in black countries, blaming gay marriage for the Somerset floods, referring to female party members as sluts...). That they attract so many of these lunatics in the first place should be deeply concerning.
People who are genuine fascists (rather than just politically illiterate/hopelessly confused little-Englanders) have a couple of parties to choose from:

 

There's the laughing stock that is the British National Party, which is led by Nick Griffin (a man who is now as financially bankrupt as he is morally bankrupt) and there are the English Democrats, who are pretty much the political wing of the English Defence League. Neither are for me and, I presume, few people in this constituency.
 

All that leads to the single Genuine Alternative for me - The Green Party

One of the most amusing sounds in modern British politics is the sound of political drones trying to dismiss the Greens as a "single issue party". The Green party have a detailed manifesto covering a huge range of issues, unlike UKIP, for example, whose party manifesto had to be dropped after Nigel Farage dismissed it as 'drivel', meaning that they go into the 2014 European elections with the most absurdly childish party 'manifesto' I've ever read (a 12 page document, five pages of which are taken up by pictures, and the rest containing nothing more than a few unsubstantiated bullet points and pro-UKIP quotations - download a copy and see if you agree with me).

Anyone who actually bothers to check out the Green Party manifesto, and then takes a look at the ludicrous UKIP 'manifesto' will be left in absolutely no doubt about which is a serious political party with actual policies, and which is a bunch of absolute charlatans pretending to be a political party. Everyone will be more-or-less familiar with the Green party position the environment, so here is a comparison of some of their more important policies on non-environmental issues with the other main parties.

 

 

Ticks in all of the Green boxes for the areas I consider important. Let's face it, in social and economic terms, the Green Party occupies the traditional territory of Old Labour. That's where my heart lies and voting Green tomorrow is my best option.

If just one in every hundred people who didn't bother to vote in the last European elections decided to vote Green, they would easily force the Liberal Democrats into the embarrassment of a fifth place finish. And that's something worth aiming for!

Dartmoor in the sun! Addendum

In my last post, I mentioned that we were puzzled by these objects just off our path. Intrigued, I e-mailed those that should know. And they did. Here's their reply. Sorted!

From: Princetown Visitor Centre [mailto:princetown@dartmoor.gov.uk] Sent: 17 May 2014 10:22 To: 'Derrick Parsons' Subject: RE: Spotted on a walk yesterday
Derrick,
This is a ‘control flag’ for an orienteering course put out for an organised event by a local group. It is usually associated with a stamp with pins on so that a route card can be suitably marked to prove the objective has been reached.
Regards
Neil Handley
Information Adviser
Dartmoor National Park Authority
National Park Visitor Centre, Princetown
Princetown
Devon PL20 6QF
 

Dartmoor in the sun!

It was off to Dartmoor for a 5 mile walk in the sun yesterday. We started at Norsworthy Bridge at the top of Burrator Reservoir and then headed on to the moor. We took in Crazywell Pool and its nearby cross, before walking along the Devonport Leat for a couple of miles. A relatively easy climb took us up onto Sharpitor and from there we walked across the saddle to Leather Tor.  A short sharp descent and a stroll through the woods and we were back at our starting point. A great walk and one that we'll do again.  And there was more: a final pleasure was a stop at the Royal Oak pub in Meavy.

I like the promise that the central finger post to the 'Open Moor' has to offer. And every time we walk the moor, the promise is delivered. In fact, I can't remember ever doing a walk that we haven't thoroughly enjoyed.

Something we haven't seen before. Any ideas?

Our walk will end up on those two tors in the background - Sharpitor to the right and Leather Tor to the left. And look at the blue sky!

Reflections of clouds in the water of Crazywell Pool. Reputed to be bottomless, it is actually about 40' deep and was probably dug out to serve as a water supply for a nearby tin mine.

A stone cross near Crazywell Pool. Nothing definite is known about it except that the top was found near the pool in the late 1800s and was erected on a new shaft at this position. It may have been a marker on the Abbot's Way but then again it may not have been.

The Devonport Leat as it cascades down the hill.......................

...........to the aqueduct over the river. The Devonport Leat was built in the 1790s to supply water to the naval port at Devonport, The aqueduct takes it over the river that supplied, and still partially supplies, water to Plymouth. Heaven forbid that the waters mixed.

Our merry gang on top of Sharpitor. Oops, just noticed that DC's not there - and me, of course, as I was behind the camera.

Heading up over the granite boulder field to Leather Tor.

Those of us who climbed up to the top of Leather Tor (all three of us) were surprised at how narrow the ridge was. FW can be seen picking his way gingerly along the top.

A great view from the top, extending over Burrator Reservoir in the foreground and those with eagle-eyes will be able to pick out Plymouth Sound and the Breakwater in the distance.

Another day, another house and garden.....................

....But very disappointingly, despite a promise of one, no cream tea. However, the fruit cake was very nice. Very nice and very expensive. 

This afternoon we took advantage of the fact that Trematon Castle, near Saltash, had an open garden and guided tour. We've walked past it many times and, as it's rarely open to the public because it's a private residence, we jumped at the chance to visit. The castle has belonged to the Dukes of Cornwall since shortly after the Norman conquest, and is a perfect miniature Norman castle. John Betjeman wrote that it had “one of the most superb views of Cornwall, a Brunel stone viaduct crossing a foreground creek, the Lynher and Tamar estuaries beyond, and the wooded slopes of Anthony”.  Around 1806, a Georgian house was built in the grounds of the castle and it is there that the owners live. The present owners are a husband and wife team of landscape designers and gardeners and their expertise certainly showed in the many borders surrounding the house. We learnt that the Castle is up-for-sale: a snip at just under £900,000. The only problem is that the lease on the property only runs for another 19 years and then it reverts back to the Duchy. A rather feudal arrangement and, as far as I'm concerned, another reason to have a republic!

A view looking up at the central circular keep of the castle. It's a typical motte and bailey design: the motte being the artificial mound upon which it is built and the bailey is the surrounding land. There is good evidence that the castle was erected on the site of a Roman fort.

The Norman gatehouse to the castle. As intact an example as we've seen anywhere.

The gatehouse and part of the curtain wall as we ascended to the castle.

A view from the other side showing the crenulations of the curtain wall.

Inside the castle walls - their circular nature can just about be made out. They are almost completely intact. The space enclosed by the walls would, most probably have been covered by a wooden roof. The corbels taking the weight of this structure can be seen quite clearly just below the crenulations.

A fireplace in the upper floor of the gatehouse. This is where the Black Prince and Sir Francis Drake definitely stayed. Although it's not much to look at now, it is the first of its type in England in having decorative columns on each side of the opening. Before then, decorative features on domestic stonework was not seen. 

A view of the loo! Just imagine, this is where the Black Prince and Sir Francis Drake had a pee ....and more.

And this is the 1806 Georgian house built within the castle grounds. It was built by an admiral, who promptly demolished part of the curtain walls...............

...So that he could get a good view of the naval dockyard at Devonport just down the river. Trematon is in a good strategic position overlooking the navigable waters of the Lynher and Tamar and was probably the reason why the Romans built the original fortification on the site.

Just one of the many herbaceous borders put in by the present owners. Plenty of flowers at the moment and many more to come.

Just one of the many alliums in full bloom. Talking of alliums, the woodland areas were awash with wild garlic and the warm weather really raised its scent. At times, it was like walking through a garlic-smelling mist.

The relationship of the 'new' house with the castle.

 

The gatehouse with the curtain wall to the left. Running down the right hand side of the gatehouse can be seen the place where the demolished curtain wall was keyed in.

A pleasant afternoon at Coombe Trenchard

We were invited to be part of a group taking a tour of the house and gardens at Coombe Trenchard just over the border in Devon (Our location was confirmed when the scones of the cream tea came with the jam on top of the cream. The reverse order is the Cornish way). A delightful afternoon in the sun at a very interesting place.

At first glance the house may look Elizabethan but, in actual fact, it's a good example of the Edwardian Arts and Crafts style. It was completed in 1906 and was erected on the spot where a Georgian rectory once stood.

 

An impressive white wisteria was in full bloom at the back of the house.

There were lots of Arts and Crafts touches in the house, such as the wrought iron metal fitments to all of the windows.

And the fitments for the original gas lights. Acetylene was the gas used and this was generated from solid calcium carbide in an outside gas house. Smelly and highly combustible, the use of acetylene was a high risk activity.

 

The risk of using acetylene was recognised and an early sprinkler system had been installed. This used water from this water tower, now converted into bedrooms.

Just two of the very ornate chimney pots. At first glance reminiscent of those seen on Tudor buildings such as Hampton Court.

The gardens and woodlands associated with the house extend for about 100 acres - we did not walk them all. But we did explore an interesting mixture of formal borders and informal woods. Bluebells were coming to an end and wild garlic was taking their place under the trees.

 

I've always wanted a piece of modern sculpture in my garden. A Barbara Hepworth would be nice but way, way, out of my price range. I liked this one and it was a pleasure to feel the cool smoothness of its contours. The right sculpt in the right place and, if my pockets had been big enough, I could have been tempted to walk off with it.