The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Following Patricia Harris’s letter in which she execrates my previous week’s correspondence, as this was a personal attack (rather than generic like my letter) I would like the opportunity to address her and start by quoting David Cameron by saying “calm down dear”.
Your communication has all the appearance of being composed with the possibility of improbious confected outrage, and then “pressing send” when you are in an agitated fit of pique.
My letter did not contain any hatred whatsoever. If you believe otherwise, then you effectively denounce this paper of publishing and promulgating hate speech.
My letter may have been vociferous but it was free speech, in the same manner as your words were when printed by this paper, even though you (wrongly) criticised it.
Most of the feedback I have had has been along the lines of “crikey Tony, fancy telling it how it is.”
When madam, did you start to stop seeing things?
I am pleased for you and your experiences, although I would point out that a few green shoots in an oasis do not make the desert an Amazon rainforest and, if I may be so bold, I felt my observations were somewhat transcendent.
I note you have attached the vassal status of “incomer” to yourself. You may not be aware, but after a decade here, you are now eligible for advancement to the preferment of “adopted daughter”. I attained my “adopted son” label in 1999, after only seven years here, a world record for its time!
You refer to me as “poor Tony”. As you will have no knowledge of my financial situation or my state of health, I have to conclude that you are using this adjective in its prenominal state. In such instance, I neither require nor solicit your pity.
Why do you “suspect this person would not be happy anywhere”? What a highly arrogant conclusion, based on absolutely no knowledge of your subject matter, but, as we know, excessive arrogance diminishes wisdom.
I can assure you that I am not lugubrious whatsoever. Indeed, whenever I ask the question of my (best ever) neighbours, Marge and Big Al, as to whether life’s a great laugh living next door to me, they always give the same reply of “Oh, bloody hilarious”!
Further, you state “if you join in and make an effort to be part of your community”, how about, over the years, organiser of a couple of car boots, village hall committee member, parish councillor, etc, etc.
So you see, your comments are entirely fatuous, but nevertheless, I thank you for you unhelpful ingenuity.
Tony Bown
Whaplode St Catherine
