Where will the churchgoers park?
Just a thought, but what consideration has been given to people who need to park in the town on Sunday in order to go to the various churches in the town for the Sunday Services?
DELLA ANVERALI
My war over the port will continue
Friday the thirteenth, can be unlucky for some!
With the news that Anne Edwards is retiring many of us will feel that a cog in the wheel that is Great Yarmouth Borough will be missing and virtually impossible to replace.
I have known Anne for 12 years as a person that holds Great Yarmouth very dear to her heart. One thing I learnt early on Anne is her own person, unlike a lot of reporters Anne reports the news! She does not make it.
Many a time I have sent in a letter on the subject of the port only to see that parts have been omitted, and no amount of moaning to Anne about it to change it got me nowhere, she was the boss.
Over the years there has been many articles in the Mercury about the many times that involved me where Anne editing the content of the articles described most factually with no bias towards anyone just the truth as a story evolved.
My war with our council and Port Authority will still carry on as little snippets still surface and come to the attention of those who care who feel the Ratepayers were robbed. News will still be reported when Anne leaves us as one thing she has achieved is having a very strong team around her ensuring factual news will always be reported.
JOHN L COOPER
Honorary Freeman of the Borough
Retired Port Welfare Officer
Hospice care part of medical care
In last week’s Great Yarmouth Mercury I read with great concern refusal to fund a hospice in the grounds of the James Paget University Hospital.
As a retired general practitioner I would like to express my views on the subject. Both, hospice and palliative care
are part of medical care. That is what NHS is for, to care from “Cradle to Grave”.
From my 32 years experience, everybody’s circumstances are utterly different.
Some prefer to breathe last in their own home surrounded by relatives. Others may not have such privilege according to their circumstances. It is one thing to say helping people to die “in the place of their choice” supported by community based service, but they have not told what those community based services would be.
From my own experience I can say there are times when no amount of such a service can give more dignified end to life.
Another important point to bear in mind is not everybody dies same way, each death is different.
Now the government has announced that the NHS will give money to patients. Patients will themselves decide how and where they will spend the money to get care they would need.
If the Hospice is built, as was proposed, people can use that money for their stay in that Hospice. It would certainly reduce the cost of care during their stay.
I would request the funders at NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney CCG to reconsider their decision.
Dr A KUMAR
Retired General Practitioner
Gorleston
Candidates, please come to visit me
There has been some very interesting letters lately in the paper. Those “downing” the town, those “upping” the town, and more.
I sit on the fence and hope for the best. But, two letters caught my eye.
The first was from the gentleman who exposed the trick over the massive increase in the social care amount we are extorted for via council tax. I can’t fault his mathematics, spot on! The individual increase was 90pc plus but buried in the overall unjustified council tax increase, it disappeared. Just like the services the council is supposed to provide for the borough, not just the seafront.
The second was from the gentleman who lives on Elm Avenue regarding the dog fouling in the little park opposite the road. I totally agree with him, dog mess poses a risk to eyesight. That’s before we go through the other risks and hazards it can cause.
But, as usual, those attacking the dog fouling, rightly so, only worry about the tip of the iceberg. Nothing was said about the general rubbish dumped on the field, the drinks cans, bottles, the old tyre thrown into the tree. These present as big a hazard as I found out last year.
I was about to leave when one of the boys who came onto the field fell over and cut his hand. When the council come to cut the grass, they don’t have a clear up first but chop bottles, cans and anything else into a bobby trap and leave them. When I go up there and let my dogs loose to play I wander around picking up these objects and putting them in the bin.
No mention was made about the continual removal of the gate which is vandalism.
So, who is to blame? Myself and those I speak to put the blame firmly on the shoulders of the council. Look around the borough, other than the seafront, we see it is becoming dirty again.
Come round to the areas I walk, armed with a large supply of bags, and see the blocked drain at the Phoenix, four years and counting that it’s been left. The street light clocks left and GMT, despite being assured the clock would be corrected. And plenty of cuts, pity the councillors didn’t think about that when it came time to increase their allowances.
It’s election time, “Vote for me, Vote for me” again. Well, I throw the gauntlet down. I’m usually home from work about 5pm. I then take my dogs out, the big boy first then the other two. So, if they can be bothered, I would like to see my councillors come to my home and come for a walk on the routes I go.
Indeed, any councillor or candidate, please come round. They can tell me what they’ll do to sort the mess out here and in the town and why I should vote for them. I won’t hold my breath waiting for the visit.
DAVID GOODCHILD
Very proud of cast of young actors
I had to write to congratulate all the cast of St George’s Theatre Musical Youth Group for their truly amazing production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Their talents, both in singing and acting with enthusiasm and energy, knows no bounds and I left feeling overwhelmed and very emotional by it all.
The timeless story was carried out exceptionally well, even though it had been updated it made no difference to the end result.
The actual lashing and crucifixion of Jesus was very moving and it was hard to remember it was acting and not reality, especially when you looked at the faces and mannerisms on all who were involved.
A very memorable production and I for one are very proud to have such a dedicated group of young people performing in our own wonderful St George’s Theatre, Great Yarmouth.
FAYE STANLEY
Royal Naval Hospital,
Great Yarmouth
Medical experience was A1 for me!
On Sunday, April 8, I needed to be taken to the James Paget Hospital by ambulance.
I would like to thank the out of hours service, the paramedics and all the staff who treated me. Although under pressure, they were caring and understanding.
Algebra was never my forte, however A&E = A1 for me. Thanks again the James Paget Hospital.
MIKE MUNT
Repps with Bastwick
Rock berms would guide currents
With the assistance of marine engineers we can strategically place rock berms off the coast at Hemsby to guide currents to bring back the natural movement of seabed material to replace that moved by aggregate extraction.
Otherwise, if it is left as is, the ultimate results will be the sea will break through to the boards – probably in the long term, but the end result is inevitable.
The sooner the planning, the better our chance.
To replace manually is expensive but with nature’s help there is hope. However, a start is vital. Aggregates material moved was millions of tonnes, perhaps with nature’s help it is possible to restore.
JACK DYE
Gonville Road,
Gorleston
Trees thriving on west side of river
What utter nonsense that trees won’t grow on South Quay because of the salt water and the proximity of the river in Great Yarmouth.
Just look at the trees on Southtown Road, on the riverside, people have them in their gardens. And Elm builders, in the old garrison I believe, is surrounded by ancient trees. So how have they survived all these years with their roots in salt water seeping underground?
There must be an answer. South Quay would look beautiful with an avenue of trees; and so would the seafront with rows of palm trees – don’t forget the deserts where they originate are hot in summer and bitterly cold in the winter.
It’s time we “greened” up, it makes a place look so attractive and looked after.
V WILLIAMSON
Norwich
Disgusting speech is proven wrong
It is sad that the anniversary of Enoch Powell’s disgusting “Rivers of Blood” speech should fall on the week we find out that many of those he claimed could never integrate into British society, known as the “Windrush Generation”, have been wrongfully, often illegally, deported.
Powell’s speech claimed that because “integration” meant “indistinguishability”, it would be impossible for people who were black or asian to integrate in a white society. Thankfully, we have proved him wrong.
So why is this happening? And why have the former immigration minister Brandon Lewis and our current PM Theresa May done nothing these past years to assist those British citizens who are being illegally detained in their own country, and being wrongfully deported from it?
ANDERS LARSON
Vienna and Great Yarmouth
Breathtaking show at lovely theatre
The wonderful St George’s Theatre in Great Yarmouth offers a wide range of high quality entertainment at reasonable prices.
Last week’s breathtaking performance of Jesus Christ Superstar performed over only three nights by the youth theatre was outstanding. If you missed it, you missed a real treat!
All performers were professional and I think took the audience by surprise. The talented young performers never once lost focus. Their performances were passionate, their dancing and singing expressive and the whole show was planned and delivered to the highest standard of any professional cast. In my opinion, the show would not have looked out of place at the Theatre Royal, Norwich or on stage in London. Crucially, each show had large audiences creating a great atmosphere. Well done to all involved - you have certainly raised the bar!
I write to urge the residents in the borough to get behind Debbie Thompson, Director at St George’s Theatre and her wonderful, dedicated and hard working team. The theatre itself is a marvellous venue and it was heated and warm.
The cafe is a lovely, airy and warm environment to chill out in whether you are on your own or meeting friends for coffee and lunch. Michael Court, manager of the St George’s Cafe and Michelle Conlogue are going that extra mile to provide food and entertainment from live Jazz lunchtime concerts, quiz nights with food - such as the quiz night and Great British Deserts evening on April 23 and an array of community events in the cafe.
How lucky we are! I urge people not to put off going to St George’s Theatre - it is here for us, we need to support it. The next show is Pirates of Penzance - well worth seeing!
LORRAINE LAVAN
Caister on sea
Accolades for the young performers
Each autumn the Dusmagrik Young People’s Theatre Company stages a full scale musical at Gorleston Pavilion and it is good news to hear that last November’s five star production of Annie has been nominated in the Best Youth Production category in the amateur theatre equivalent of the Olivier Awards.
The winner will be announced next month. Isobel Wilson who played the title role has already been named as winner of Best Youth Performer – the fourth consecutive year a member of Dusmagrik has collected that award.
The accolades are well deserved.
Last week the group presented the annual spring production. This is the time when the more junior members get a chance to shine and those of us who have been followers for many years wonder what the future might hold.
There was absolutely no disappointment with their musical version of the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood. The entire cast, right down to the youngest, performed with confidence, strong singing, excellent diction and good movement. No worries then about the years ahead as these young troupers grow into the next generation.
Meanwhile in the second half the seniors gave us a cracking selection of songs from the shows in a programme which they had also helped to devise and choreograph.
Talent abounded and it all bodes well for this November when Dusmagrik will no doubt once again rise to the occasion when they take on the challenging West End hit show Legally Blonde.
TONY MALLION
Lowestoft Road,
Gorleston
Anne will be sorely missed by readers
Anne Edwards, editor of the Great Yarmouth Mercury, who we have relied upon for 12 years is retiring. She will be so missed.
She has given young people encouragement to achieve by the reports the Great Yarmouth Mercury has given schools and the work the young people are doing showing the talent we have in Great Yarmouth.
She has also reported on all the work that is being done in the communities highlighting volunteers, local groups and charities and the funds they are raising.
Businesses can rely on Anne to report on what they are achieving and local news good and bad it is all there in the Great Yarmouth Mercury.
Her love and commitment to the people of Great Yarmouth has been immense, we are so grateful to her.
Wishing her a very long and happy retirement.
SHIRLEY WEYMOUTH
Trees should be planted by quay
Regarding the letter last week referring to trees on South Quay, are we sure it is salt water that killed the last batch of trees? Trees have grown on South Quay before and there are one or two smaller ones growing nearer the Haven Bridge.
Might I suggest it is lack of care, newly planted trees need to be looked after, that is watering on a regular basis till the roots get established.
If you look at the area given to these trees you will see they were basically planted in a concrete/cobble surface, the heat coming off this material on a hot day could drain a newly planted tree of gallons of moisture, if this is not replaced by watering the tree will struggle and die. (The ivy plants didn’t work either and it takes something to kill an ivy).
When it rains the water just runs off onto the Quay instead of going to ground. So why can’t we try a few , possibly opposite the Lydia Eva, get them watered regularly (with sufficient water) as for sponsoring the trees why not? Don’t forget the Queen is pushing for more trees to be planted this year! Come on Great Yarmouth do your bit.
Whilst on the subject of brightening the area up how’s about getting some local art students or the like to do a mural of the fishing industry along the river wall near our last herring drifter? Might look quite good?
J MASTERSON
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