Reversing into space

 Unions are important. A marriage is a Union. A friend of mine calls his band Hadrian’s Union because he was born at one end of Hadrian’s Wall and now lives at the other end and the band members come from various towns along the wall. Unions are important as I discovered when I was in dispute with an employer, with the support from the Union I was able to defend myself, reject some of what had been falsely claimed and leave with my dignity intact and all the false allegations dismissed. In the light of this inadequate and failing Government it is clear that, as shareholders, business leaders and bankers are unfairly rewarded, the people who create the wealth that the employers share amongst themselves are being punished by pay rises far below the rate of inflation amidst calls for ‘pay restraint’ from the same shareholders, business leaders and bankers. The Chancellor of the Exchequer appears to be completely out of ideas as to how inflation can be managed and the associated cost o...

 One of my treasured possessions is a signed copy of Harold Wilson's book a Prime Minister on Prime Ministers. In the book Wilson reviews the leadership of twelve Prime Ministers from The Younger Pitt to Harold McMillan, all fare well in his generous review. Of course Lord Wilson is not here now to review the current Prime Minister, although he does quote from a satirical review of the shortest Prime Ministerial administration, that of the Earl of Bath, which lasted 48 and 3/4 hours, 7 minutes and 11 seconds, and: 'which may truly be called the most honest of all administrations: the minister to the astonishment of all wise men never transacted one rash thing; and, what is more marvellous, left as much money in the Treasury as he found in it'. I leave you the reader to make your own judgement as to what Lord Wilson might have made of the Johnson administration! It is my opinion that Wilson was the best of all the Prime Ministers who have served in that office in my lifetime...

 Like most people the Accession and the Coronation have become linked over time so at the street party on my estate in Carlisle most of the conversation was linked to memories of the Coronation. One of our neighbours in 1953 had bought himself an old Riley motorcar, he couldn't afford the petrol (some things it appears never change) so instead of driving he sat outside in his car and listened instead to the Coronation on radio. My family boasted one TV between three families and so we had to travel on the 210 Trolley Bus to Hyde so that we could watch the Coronation on my Aunts Black and White TV with its 9 inch screen. That is where the old Manchester joke comes from: Where do flies go in winter? Through Denton to Hyde! I guess at 8 years of age I just thought the weather in London was just grey and misty and wet. The highlight of the day was the model Coronation Coach that my grandfather bought me in order to remember this great occasion.  I still have the Coach. It is somew...