Flying above Aberdeenshire on Monday it was significant to see how much further behind the arable crops are now compared to those down south.
Watching the glorious countryside stretched out below made me realise how fortunate are we to live, work and farm in the beauty of the British countryside.
We receive daily reminders of the grim reality and consequences resulting from the pressures arising from the overpopulation of our small island.
The chaos so often seen at ports, airports, on major and increasingly minor roads, is a stark reminder of just how privileged and sheltered those of us who live in the countryside are, from this pressure cooker which is in danger of exploding.
The balance between control and bedlam is on a knife edge, and it takes very little to tip the balance. The spectacle of container trucks and lorries parked up mile after mile along the M20, for days on end last week, in the stifling heat, exposes the fragility of the ‘system’.
The authorities are becoming expert at providing services such as loos, drinking water, medical facilities and exit routes for diesel fill ups. But this situation which is having a catastrophic effects upon many businesses, and is costing a fortune, was caused by just a handful of French workers demanding a pay rise.
On the other side of the channel lorry drivers were threatened, abused and in danger of being prosecuted if they alerted the authorities to the migrants who managed to stow away in their trucks.
Being delayed at the port for days on end made them sitting ducks. But despite their efforts and members of the public, these people who are hell bent on gaining access to the UK, are facing little resistance from the French authorities, and by all accounts once across the channel there is not even dad’s army waiting to send them back.
The public are now questioning why the military has not been recruited to defend our shores at times like these? Politicians all too eager to send our soldiers, sailors and airmen across the world to fight other people’s wars, should surely prioritise their prime responsibility, which is to defend our shores.
It is surprising that very little has been heard from the Home secretary Theresa May. Has she been to visit Calais, Folkestone or Dover? Does she really know the scale of the problem, and if so what is she doing about it?
The Conservative government has now been in office for eight weeks. It is now time to put up the barriers, control our borders and anyone without a job, accommodation or English should be denied entry. The whole immigration system must be overhauled and tightened up, and now is the optimum time to take a stand.
For many years I have known about the Dame Vera Lynn Charity for children with Cerebral Palsy. But until last week I had never visited this amazing school which is situated in the grounds of Ingfield Manor School, near Billingshurst.
The school provides a specialist and unique service for families of young children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, from birth until the age of five. The parents and children learn together daily living skills, using the principles of Conductive Education. The highly skilled and professional team help parents to recognise a child’s unique qualities and achievements.
During the visit we met the parents of a three year old little girl who described so graphically their initial feelings of despair and frustration when their child was first diagnosed. They felt helpless and unprepared despite the offer of counselling and the use of specialist equipment and a wheel chair, when required, by the NHS services.
They explained how, having been recommended to approach the Dame Vera Lynn Trust they were immediately offered expert support, understanding of not only their child’s needs but also their own. All they wanted was to help their daughter, who has cerebral palsy, is also profoundly deaf but exceptionally intelligent, reach her full potential.
Their story of the journey they have taken with their little girl, through the system at this special school is deeply moving. It gave us an understanding of how precious and vital this specialist conductive education is, and the additional support network it offers.
The school helps to maximise active, functional movement in all situations, and enable children where possible, to become independent through developing and maximising their abilities. It helps to build confidence and self-esteem for both parents and children, and provide solid support and practical advice to parents so they can play a key role in the teaching partnership.
All the services are provided free of charge. The school receives no statutory funding, it relies entirely on the support of the community, charitable trusts and individuals, to raise the funds required. The charity must raise in excess of £600,000 each year, to ensure that this special school of excellence can keep helping these families and their children.
Tom Jones a trustee and son in law of Dame Vera Lynn said, “The school provides one of the most important services to parents of a child with this condition. They are reassured that they are not alone, and the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity not only offers support but trains them to help achieve their child’s potential in life.”
To find out more or to support this unique charity contact: [email protected] or visit: www.dvltrust.org.uk
Watching the glorious countryside stretched out below made me realise how fortunate are we to live, work and farm in the beauty of the British countryside.
We receive daily reminders of the grim reality and consequences resulting from the pressures arising from the overpopulation of our small island.
The chaos so often seen at ports, airports, on major and increasingly minor roads, is a stark reminder of just how privileged and sheltered those of us who live in the countryside are, from this pressure cooker which is in danger of exploding.
The balance between control and bedlam is on a knife edge, and it takes very little to tip the balance. The spectacle of container trucks and lorries parked up mile after mile along the M20, for days on end last week, in the stifling heat, exposes the fragility of the ‘system’.
The authorities are becoming expert at providing services such as loos, drinking water, medical facilities and exit routes for diesel fill ups. But this situation which is having a catastrophic effects upon many businesses, and is costing a fortune, was caused by just a handful of French workers demanding a pay rise.
On the other side of the channel lorry drivers were threatened, abused and in danger of being prosecuted if they alerted the authorities to the migrants who managed to stow away in their trucks.
Being delayed at the port for days on end made them sitting ducks. But despite their efforts and members of the public, these people who are hell bent on gaining access to the UK, are facing little resistance from the French authorities, and by all accounts once across the channel there is not even dad’s army waiting to send them back.
The public are now questioning why the military has not been recruited to defend our shores at times like these? Politicians all too eager to send our soldiers, sailors and airmen across the world to fight other people’s wars, should surely prioritise their prime responsibility, which is to defend our shores.
It is surprising that very little has been heard from the Home secretary Theresa May. Has she been to visit Calais, Folkestone or Dover? Does she really know the scale of the problem, and if so what is she doing about it?
The Conservative government has now been in office for eight weeks. It is now time to put up the barriers, control our borders and anyone without a job, accommodation or English should be denied entry. The whole immigration system must be overhauled and tightened up, and now is the optimum time to take a stand.
For many years I have known about the Dame Vera Lynn Charity for children with Cerebral Palsy. But until last week I had never visited this amazing school which is situated in the grounds of Ingfield Manor School, near Billingshurst.
The school provides a specialist and unique service for families of young children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, from birth until the age of five. The parents and children learn together daily living skills, using the principles of Conductive Education. The highly skilled and professional team help parents to recognise a child’s unique qualities and achievements.
During the visit we met the parents of a three year old little girl who described so graphically their initial feelings of despair and frustration when their child was first diagnosed. They felt helpless and unprepared despite the offer of counselling and the use of specialist equipment and a wheel chair, when required, by the NHS services.
They explained how, having been recommended to approach the Dame Vera Lynn Trust they were immediately offered expert support, understanding of not only their child’s needs but also their own. All they wanted was to help their daughter, who has cerebral palsy, is also profoundly deaf but exceptionally intelligent, reach her full potential.
Their story of the journey they have taken with their little girl, through the system at this special school is deeply moving. It gave us an understanding of how precious and vital this specialist conductive education is, and the additional support network it offers.
The school helps to maximise active, functional movement in all situations, and enable children where possible, to become independent through developing and maximising their abilities. It helps to build confidence and self-esteem for both parents and children, and provide solid support and practical advice to parents so they can play a key role in the teaching partnership.
All the services are provided free of charge. The school receives no statutory funding, it relies entirely on the support of the community, charitable trusts and individuals, to raise the funds required. The charity must raise in excess of £600,000 each year, to ensure that this special school of excellence can keep helping these families and their children.
Tom Jones a trustee and son in law of Dame Vera Lynn said, “The school provides one of the most important services to parents of a child with this condition. They are reassured that they are not alone, and the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity not only offers support but trains them to help achieve their child’s potential in life.”
To find out more or to support this unique charity contact: [email protected] or visit: www.dvltrust.org.uk
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