Council in no position to pontificate on what constitutes respect for Queen

Graham Carter’s columns in your paper are always excellent and most always resonate with me. But today’s more than most.

Along with many other Swindonians I was staggered (to put it mildly) – but sadly not surprised – when I heard of SBC’s inexplicable eleventh-hour decision not to honour a long-standing booking for Steam by the XTC convention. Graham has made eloquent cover of that in his column so no need for me to repeat it.

Except to say that, as a Swindonian: SBC, this was a shabby and crass decision. Indeed, as a royalist: SBC, this was a shabby and crass decision!

As Graham points out, today is a day of contemplation and reflection on the life and legacy of HMQ. And, having watched footage of Prince Philip’s Covid-compliant funeral and the Queen sitting in solitary, quiet dignity – when all the while, as we now know, our so-called government were busy partying and breaking their own rules, I’m left with some contemplation and reflection of my own.

I’m left contemplating and reflecting on the fact that our Conservative council, members of a party that has supported and propped up a morally bankrupt and law-breaking Prime Minister, have no qualifications whatsoever to pontificate on what and what isn’t appropriate and respectful.

Yours sincerely - and in sincere frustration.

Angela Akinson

By email

Queen would have been pragmatic

I always look forward to Graham Carter's Monday column. It's a refreshing change from the Tory MPs, Tory Councillors and Tory Police Commissioners, telling us daily how wonderful everything is; and I have to say this week he was at his most powerful and incisive.

He sought to draw a stark comparison of what the Queen might want and the tendency for insincere politicians to play the “show some respect card” whenever it suits them.

The decision by Swindon Borough Council, to scrap a long arranged, twice postponed, long committed tribute to Swindon band XTC at Steam Museum, for which fans had travelled from all points on the globe.

This weekend there was a full FA fixture list, a full rugby league list, league cricket was played right across the country, there were circus tours, marathons and fun runs and even London Fashion Week, all going ahead. The fact that all these went ahead was not in disrespect to the late Monarch, it was either because of financial considerations, or most importantly because the Queen would have wanted long time, relatively low profile, events, especially for charity to continue, in the period between her passing and her funeral. I hesitate to say it but she was that kind of Queen, rather sensible and rather pragmatic (in addition to her many other qualities).

I attended a West End show this week in a packed auditorium, surrounded by other shows and plays similarly sold out. I also attended Swindon Heritage Weekend. I enjoyed the Swindon Shuffle which proved a great success raising money for Prospect. I am even talking tonight, after the funeral, to the Women's Institute, and am presuming this is going ahead because she was a patron to and such a fan of this organisation.

I would strongly argue none of these events has diminished in any way the respect which I or others hold for the late Queen.

Our terrific town is so often conjured up when any two-bit comedian wants a cheap joke. I used to think it a mystery why but as I get older I feel perhaps it's not such a mystery?

Councillor Cunliffe said in announcing this decision "on behalf of Swindon Borough Council we would like to sincerely apologise for all the inconvenience this decision has caused."

Sorry young Matthew, but it just won't do. Remember the words of Rashida Rowe who famously said "they say actions speak louder than words but sometimes it's those very words that determine what action you should take."

John Stooke

Haydon End

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