Learning how to rescue dolphins

Want to learn how to rescue Whales, Dolphins & Seals?

Thanks to Stephan for sharing details of this course taking place on 24th May. Ed


BDMLR is a UK based marine animal rescue organisation. We have over 2900 active Marine Mammal Medic volunteers around the UK and is the only such specialist organisation covering Scotland, England and Wales.

The BDMLR Marine Mammal Medic Course has been developed to train members of the public on how to safely rescue stranded Whales, Dolphins, Porpoises & Seals as part of our team. You do not need to be a diver, but the minimum age is 16yrs old.

The course
The course consists of a morning of lectures followed by practical sessions in the afternoon using our life sized whale, dolphin and seal models in the sea.

This is a full day’s course and the fee is £90 for which you will receive your first year’s subscription to BDMLR, one year’s third party insurance cover, cloth medic badge and car stickers, Medic ID card, a certificate and a copy of our internationally accredited Marine Mammal Medic Handbook.

Please bring a packed lunch and refreshments with you. Please note that you will need your own drysuit or wetsuit with boots for this course. Arrivals 9am for a 9.30am start. The course should finish around 5pm.

Please book via our website www.bdmlr.org.uk or call 01825 765546 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm).

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tryme
19, September 2014 11:03 pm

CW’s style is so synthetic and unmistakeable. I can imagine him saying: “Take this down, Charles …” After which he sits at the side of the ‘grave’ and gives an over the top public eulogy, crocodile tears masking his delight at having packed so many damaging inferences into the press release. Can’t Cllr Chapman write his own piece without it needing to first be PR-ed within an… Read more »

Robert Jones
19, September 2014 11:16 pm

The death of a thousand cuts – this has always been the problem with Independents: under pressure, they tend to stick together like Bluetack to an ice-cube. It is perhaps telling however that Charles Chapman seems incapable of speaking for himself, and requires Chris Whitehouse to do it for him. The term “broken reed” springs inevitably to mind. If the Independents lose another member, that’s basically the… Read more »

Mason Watch
19, September 2014 11:28 pm

No wonder that politicians are regarded as self serving and of no use to the general population. The Boy Pugh and his acolytes must be laughing all the way to the next ballot box. What a shower of sh**e……

steve s
20, September 2014 5:01 am

For the sake of accuracy, the ’email’ above bears no resemblance to the email actually sent by Cllr Chapman to all members at 19.41 yesterday.

You probably already guessed that.

I wonder how long it will be before the Pope asks for his sword back.

Nitonia
Reply to  steve s
20, September 2014 7:11 am

Steve, I know that you have worked tirelessly in a difficult job over the last year or so. It hasn’t been plain sailing and it hasn’t been easy. It also, I’m sure, hasn’t always gone to plan. However that last comment has ensured my support for a good while to come, please don’t be de-railed by those idiots on the conservative party especially those who will happily… Read more »

Nitonia
Reply to  Nitonia
20, September 2014 7:13 am

And the next time the Undercliff comes up maybe you should remind everyone that there is a Councillor responsible for the other end of the landslip as well who has had little to say on the matter.

wightwonders
Reply to  steve s
20, September 2014 8:34 am

Bit like the published capital contingency report bearing no resemblance to the one written by Gilbey, eh Steve?

steve s
Reply to  wightwonders
20, September 2014 9:06 am

You haven’t been following, have you, wightwonder?
The whole point is that the report WASN’T written by Cllr Gilbey.
But, of course, that’s for another day.

tryme
Reply to  steve s
20, September 2014 9:27 am

I keep thinking of “the simple sword of truth” in connection with CW, for some reason; and for anyone who doesn’t recognise the reference, it’s not a compliment.

Cynic
Reply to  tryme
20, September 2014 9:55 am

“….. and the trusty shield of British fair play”

Nice one, tryme!

Cynic
Reply to  Cynic
20, September 2014 10:15 am

Didn’t the originator of the quote ruin his political career in the Thatcher era by “making poor Carol cry”?

tryme
Reply to  steve s
20, September 2014 9:34 am

You don’t think OTW are holding back Cllr Chapman’s own email until we have exhausted the potential of responding to CW’s?

If so, unfortunately that gives plenty of time for CW’s version to embed in readers’ minds and become part of what people ‘know’ to be true.

voterseekstruth
20, September 2014 6:13 am

Perhaps, when the real e-mail sent by Charles Chapman comes to light, we can look forward to OTW running a ‘spot the difference’ competition.

Geoff Lumley
Reply to  voterseekstruth
20, September 2014 8:11 am

Here it is: “To Ian and Colleagues who were responsible for what appeared I the county press and media Sites over the last 2 weeks What I perceived to be a good group meeting on Monday 8th of Sept and giving you my support Reference your phone call to me on the 5th Sept I thought we were all in a better place. However by Friday 12th… Read more »

Colin
Reply to  Geoff Lumley
20, September 2014 9:02 am

@geoff

Barely lierate?

classic!

Geoff Lumley
Reply to  Colin
20, September 2014 9:48 am

Whoops, Colin ! I could claim I was being ironic, but no – simple typo. Rushing to get his resignation email posted for all to enjoy.

tryme
Reply to  Geoff Lumley
20, September 2014 10:11 am

I thought it was a fashionable glottal stop.

Geoff Lumley
Reply to  Geoff Lumley
20, September 2014 12:48 pm

I could probably have got away with that given my accent !

Caconym
20, September 2014 7:29 am

So an independent councillor leaves the Independents to become independent?

IW politics. It’s like the plot of a bad Carry On film.

Cynic
20, September 2014 8:13 am

One has to admit that CW is very good at personal PR as he manufactures yet another name-check opportunity.

Perhaps the Leader of the Conservative Group should start looking over his shoulder?

tryme
Reply to  Cynic
20, September 2014 9:48 am

When you say “one has to admit that CW is very good at personal PR”, it’s rather like saying Tony Blair is very good at starting illegal wars.

‘Grudging’ admiration is still admiration. I don’t admire CW for setting off rumours and speaking for elected members to try to ensure we only get to hear what he wants us to hear.

Steephill Jack
Reply to  tryme
20, September 2014 11:19 am

I have come to enjoy Cllr. Whitehouses’s press releases and written statements because they are so lacking in subtlety, are blatantly party-political and designed to score a few opportunistic points.
Like many other politicians he assumes that we are stupid and he believes his own propaganda.
I really find him quite amusing. Here come the Red Arrows !

tryme
Reply to  Steephill Jack
20, September 2014 12:37 pm

An up-arrow from me! I am on that knife edge where I laugh at what he says, and then realise how other people won’t get the whole picture, of which we are such lucky recipients here. They may simply catch onto the interminable soundbites he issues.

Black Dog
20, September 2014 8:56 am

Irrespective of the comments made by Mr Chapman and the ever flippant Mr Stubbings the under lying problem is the lack of leadership. Having now read the “leaders” (hate using that word) report it began with his new job with the LGA and not what has happend or happening on the Island. This clearly demonstrates where his priorities are. Clearly he has forgotten that it was his… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  Black Dog
20, September 2014 10:04 am

Meanwhile, in another world, Black Dog, the Leader is being roundly criticised for not being open about his LGA post! Can’t win there.

Not sure why you would want to give the impression he is bragging about it, of all things.

Black Dog
Reply to  tryme
20, September 2014 12:37 pm

@tryme. You miss the point. I was making reference to to priority Mr Stephens gave to his role as leader of the council. Clearly he felt it more important to report on his LGA appointment than on serious issues being faced by the Island and Islanders. It would have been more appropriate to report on his personal triumph later on in his report. All his actions demonstrates… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  Black Dog
20, September 2014 12:41 pm

… Openness about his LGA role, perhaps…

The Sciolist
20, September 2014 9:28 am

I have tried to stay out of this meltdown, but the current independent group seems now to be clinging to power. How soon it all went wrong. If you think they achieved very little so far, then my prediction is you aint seen nothing yet, who will be next to abandon the group? Councillor Stephens made a classic blunder. Perhaps for reason of ego or money, he… Read more »

wightwonders
Reply to  The Sciolist
20, September 2014 10:56 am

Fractures certainly are appearing. I wonder how long before the wheels fall off entirely? By this I mean one of their decisions being wrong and being challenged by the public through judicial review. Given the hoo-hah relating to the current capital contingency report, we might be closer to this event than one might think. Very expensive way of making policy, judicial review, and one I certainly don’t… Read more »

isleoflove
Reply to  wightwonders
20, September 2014 11:55 am

Wightwonders – Are you alluding to a JR on the Asda decision and SS putting himself on the planning committee ? I think we should be told.

The Sciolist
Reply to  The Sciolist
20, September 2014 4:53 pm

These shenanigans always throw up mildly amusing comments from some people who think we all have very short memories. In the other place, our old pal Roger Mazillius has been commenting. Lack of space prevents him from reminding us of his own muddled past in local politics. He was elected as a Tory, then when they lost, became an independent, then joined Island First, before returning to… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  The Sciolist
21, September 2014 11:48 am

The Leader’s working at the (Hampshire/IW?) LGA for part of the week is not equivalent on any level to “foreign policy”, Sciolist! Unless we want a return to the Island being left isolated in a world of its own, (though that thought has some attractions, none the less!). Here is what the Hants & IW LGA site says is their purpose: ——————————————— “Hampshire and Isle of Wight… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  tryme
21, September 2014 12:25 pm

Actually, David Pugh’s ‘Cratus’, (who employed him while Leader), appears to be a PR firm that lobbies local government on behalf of private firms. Cratus is based in Borough High Street, London, (really foreign, then!)

The Sciolist
Reply to  tryme
21, September 2014 2:48 pm

He’s not working for them thou is he? He’s working for the NATIONAL LGA at Westminster.

Quite how the other local authorities from around Britain will pass on advice for us is unclear, unless you know different? Promoting the Isle of Wight to the hundreds of other tourist areas is also likely to be an uphill struggle.

Isolationism is another red herring.

tryme
Reply to  The Sciolist
21, September 2014 7:15 pm

If it’s the national LGA, Sciolist, so? It’s quite near on the train, you know!

It’s a highly relevant organisation closely relating to his work here, (see the CP quoting Cllr Stephens this week in the paper).

Whereas David P. regularly went to London while Leader, to work for a PR company.

As we say here: hmm-m-m-m.

Cynic
20, September 2014 10:32 am

Mmmm! ……………………………………………………………………………………… (per CP online today) The other three members allegedly involved in the attempted coup, Cllrs Richard Priest, Jon Gilbey and Bob Blezzard, have also split from the group, as previously reported. All four have denied any involvement in a plot. A statement on Cllr Chapman’s resignation has been issued by Cllr Chris Whitehouse, secretary of the Conservative group. ……………………………………………………………………………………….. Let’s review: 1. Alleged plot of… Read more »

Island Monkey
20, September 2014 10:50 am

Mon-ami Monsieur ‘astings, it does appears some ghastly plot was afoot.

I believe thees murderous plot ‘as failed, the long dagger or perhaps ahem, papal sword ‘as in thees caise, failed to land zee fatal blow.

‘Ow you say, thee council leeder, Monsieur Stephens is a dead man walking. Ee and Monsieur Stubbings days are numbered.

tryme
Reply to  Island Monkey
20, September 2014 1:59 pm

Appear here as Poirot in all your posts and I shall be obliged to give you up-arrows on each occasion, Island Monkey, whatever your sentiments! ;-D

tryme
20, September 2014 10:53 am

Surely Cllr Chapman’s (apparent) own email sent to all members yesterday at 7.41pm, would have arrived at OTW shortly after?

tryme
Reply to  Sally Perry
20, September 2014 8:19 pm

The CP were sent it.

MamaLu
20, September 2014 11:55 am

According to Geoff Lumley the REAL email from Charles Chapman bears no resemblance to that provided by Chris Whitehouse. I know who I’m more inclined to trust so does this mean that [part of comment removed by moderator]

tryme
Reply to  Sally Perry
20, September 2014 12:23 pm

For the record, it was before OTW’s amendment that I asked whether Cllr Chapman’s own email to members had reached OTW.

I didn’t think it any less likely that his email would have been leaked to OTW than Chris Whitehouse’s to members, (which we now appreciate CW hadn’t sent).

tryme
Reply to  tryme
20, September 2014 12:29 pm

It might be useful, routine practice to put the time of edits at the end of articles, too. This would enable readers to compare with individual posts and make better sense of them.

steve s
Reply to  Sally Perry
20, September 2014 12:33 pm

Thanks for the clarification, Sally.

So, we are now are being asked to accept that what Cllr Whitehouse has written in this article is a DIRECT QUOTE from Cllr Chapman? Hmmm…

Trevor
Reply to  steve s
20, September 2014 12:36 pm

Well spotted Steve. It seems that Charles Chapman’s writing style in his email to all members that Geoff Lumley has shared above and the writing style of the quote in Chris Whitehouse’s press release do seem quite far apart.

tryme
Reply to  Trevor
20, September 2014 12:48 pm

Geoff’s post of Cllr Chapman’s email was a spoof, surely?!

We have yet to see the real one.

tryme
Reply to  Trevor
20, September 2014 12:55 pm

Hang on! Is it I who got that wrong, and so we HAVE had a repro of Cllr Chapman’s email after all? Apologies all round!

Geoff Lumley
Reply to  Trevor
20, September 2014 12:58 pm

@tryme. I’m afraid not ! Its the unedited reality

tryme
Reply to  Trevor
20, September 2014 1:06 pm

Spoof-wise, I had laughed at:

“I will be sending in my resignation… as I understand this is what is required of me”,

as I thought it referred to Cllr Chapman cravenly obeying instructions from the Tory group!

tryme
Reply to  Trevor
20, September 2014 1:15 pm

So Cllr Chapman is saying that his personal experience of involvement with colleague-Indies in meetings and phonecalls had been good; but then he read the paper and online comments and decided to resign?

PG Woodhouse, you should be here to write this character up!

steve s
Reply to  Trevor
20, September 2014 1:37 pm

I cannot help but be profoundly impressed by the way Cllr Chapman avoided splitting the infinitive in his phrase ‘subsequently to traduce’ ;-)…
and to express a certain admiration for the way in which Cllr Whitehouse posts under his own name. This is more than can be said of the other Conservative councillors who regularly contribute to the discussion here.

tryme
Reply to  Trevor
20, September 2014 1:50 pm

Then no wonder the strength of Tory support here seems rather overwhelming at times, in that case!

There really needs to be a rule that no councillor can post here without using their real name.

That’s nothing Simon and Sally can do anything about, but the Council might be able to.

tryme
Reply to  Trevor
20, September 2014 3:06 pm

Love your sense of humour, Steve! Keep going.

Geoff Lumley
Reply to  steve s
20, September 2014 12:55 pm

Hmm indeed. And pigs might fly…….

Sunny Jim
20, September 2014 12:39 pm

Another one bites the dust. How long before Mr Chapman joins the Island Conservatives? Word on the street is that he asked to join them a few years ago, but was rejected.

Looks like he’s being welcomed into the fold now.

GarageElfinIOW
20, September 2014 12:45 pm

The only time there will be a true ‘independant’ council is when there is a UKIP majority

Cynic
Reply to  GarageElfinIOW
20, September 2014 1:30 pm

(guffaws)

tiki
20, September 2014 1:31 pm

I feel like banging heads together. Put aside your differences and get on with running the Isle of Wight Council. I agree with an earlier remark about the council looking and sounding very much like a really bad CARRY ON film. The public deserve better than this.

Alison Hayden.
20, September 2014 2:05 pm

There seems to an awful lot of mistakes made just lately during press releases doesn’t there? Very unusual for OTW not to put times alongside news articles……… I wonder what the real truth is? I feel we may all be being led along a path with only one agenda- to undermine our Independent IOW Council. We should be focusing on the problems facing our Island! But hey,… Read more »

Alison Hayden.
Reply to  Sally Perry
20, September 2014 4:25 pm

Sally, Do you not think that the first statement/ press release should be removed from this story? I have, as have many others read that and thought it written by Charles Chapman. It wasn’t in fact written by him but by Councillor Whitehouse. This is what is being commented on. It is not until Geoff’s post that it becomes apparent the email is not from him. So… Read more »

retired Hack
Reply to  Alison Hayden.
20, September 2014 5:10 pm

Removing the words which Cllr Whitehouse put into Cllr Chapman’s mouth would remove by far the most newsworthy aspect of the story – which is confirmation of the fact that the discontent within the administration is being engineered behind the scenes by Cllr Whitehouse. This in turn suggests powerfully that the original rumour, of a coup attempt with Tory support, first reported by OTW, was true; and… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  retired Hack
20, September 2014 5:16 pm

Then perhaps an Editor’s annotation marking the apparently engineered ‘quote’ by Cllr Whitehouse, giving a finding of whether it is found to be Cllr Chapman’s own words or not, would deal with Alison’s point?

If not a true quote, it can’t possibly be left as it is.

tryme
Reply to  retired Hack
20, September 2014 5:40 pm

Unfortunately the damage in readers’ minds will already have been done: if Cllr Chapman’s email had been in the piece, instead of a seemingly false quote, reactions would have been different. Cllr Whitehouse seems also to have put OTW’s reputation at risk. We can’t rely on all readers wading their way through the comments and understanding that the article doesn’t stand up. Many will just read the… Read more »

retired Hack
Reply to  retired Hack
20, September 2014 5:43 pm

Tryme: it seems fairly clear that CW has persuaded CC to allow words to be put into his (CC’s) mouth. CC has had all day to complain that he’s been misrepresented. He hasn’t done so. Roger Mazillius is telling the County Press that CC recently tried to rejoin the Tories and was rebuffed. Looks like his moment has come, even if he is, as Maz put it,… Read more »

retired Hack
Reply to  retired Hack
20, September 2014 5:52 pm

…should be “join the Tories”, not “rejoin”.

tryme
Reply to  retired Hack
20, September 2014 5:56 pm

So CC’s had all day to say it’s not true that the ‘quote’ isn’t his? And he hasn’t done so. Putting words in someone’s mouth does not constitute a quote – does it? I would have thought OTW would be keen to make that clear – within the piece itself. If proving the matter is a problem, adding into the piece Cllr Chapman’s email as a timed… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  retired Hack
20, September 2014 6:34 pm

Re. your 5.10pm post, retired Hack: it being the case that “by far the most newsworthy aspect of the story” is the “according to” CW quote, it doesn’t follow that many readers will thereby recognise he is “engineering” anything. On the contrary, it makes people think Cllr Chapman has a coherent case against Cllrs Stephens and Stubbings. Yes it attracts attention and might therefore be defined as… Read more »

Robert Jones
Reply to  retired Hack
20, September 2014 8:49 pm

I think this is all too true, and that Chris is targeting the very weakest elements of the Independents; and they don’t come much weaker than Charles – you won’t find him entering the argument here because he’s just not up to it: and if he did (come on, Charlie) he would be blown out of the water. It’s really pretty pathetic, frankly, to see an inadequate… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  retired Hack
20, September 2014 9:09 pm

Oooh, ouch, ow Robert!
Still, being rated ‘a kindly soul’ is an achievement in life in itself; many are not.

tryme
Reply to  Sally Perry
20, September 2014 4:41 pm

(Leaving the ‘Reply’ to Sally): that seems an interesting point, Alison. Geoff tells us he has presented a transcription here of Cllr Chapman’s email, and this has not been contested. It certainly does not share the style of the ‘quote’ in Cllr Whitehouse’s press release. This means that OTW, put in an invidious position, will presumably need to investigate before making a decision. Putting on here the… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  tryme
20, September 2014 7:46 pm

Perhaps Cllr Chapman should have emailed a press release to members too, then, Sciolist! How bizarre. We must keep our feet on the ground. We shouldn’t tolerate a PR person coming between us and councillors. Chris’ chatty style doesn’t have the bland, robotic reading of many other types of press release, so it more easily misleads. I suggest that ‘Press Release’ is written large and in bold… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  tryme
20, September 2014 7:47 pm

…at the top ..

The Sciolist
Reply to  Alison Hayden.
20, September 2014 7:08 pm

Alison you seem not to know how press releases are created? The person wishing to speak through the media first speaks to their PR person – they tell him/her exactly what they have to say and the PR expert creates the press release – usually with a nice positive spin. So, for example, a council press release, issued by the leader, is almost always actually written by… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  The Sciolist
21, September 2014 12:05 pm

You start off promisingly, Sciolist:

(“The person wishing to speak through the media first speaks to their PR person – they tell him/her exactly what they have to say”).

Exactly eh, that’s good, very good!;

but it rapidly goes downhill:

“It may or may not contain the actual words used by the person”.

That’s the problem!

Cynic
Reply to  tryme
21, September 2014 12:15 pm

Maybe we ought to update a well-knpwn phrase to “Lies, damn lies and….. PR”?

The Sciolist
Reply to  tryme
21, September 2014 2:56 pm

It may be a problem to you – but it’s now a job to some poor soul! There are thousands of these people now working in every area of public life. People running things can no longer speak for themselves, they employ someone to do it for them. Those who choose journalism as a career often change horses mid career and become spinmeisters. The pay is usually… Read more »

Cynic
Reply to  The Sciolist
21, September 2014 3:09 pm

The first role (and primary test) of a PR consultant is to persuade the client that the PR person can prsent the situation better than can than client.

Client laziness helps!

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some hire public relations officers.” – Daniel J. Boorstin

tryme
Reply to  The Sciolist
21, September 2014 8:03 pm

I don’t include Charles C. in the category of “People running things”, Sciolist.

I think it disproportionate for one ward councillor to use another such, who runs a PR firm, to speak to the rest of his colleagues and to his electorate, on his behalf.

tryme
Reply to  The Sciolist
21, September 2014 8:12 pm

More accurately, since it was a Press Release, and he had already himself emailed his colleagues, ‘…who runs a PR firm,to speak to his electorate and to the Island generally’.

Trevor
Reply to  The Sciolist
21, September 2014 8:24 pm

Sorry to go off topic, but am I the only one who’d like Tryme Tryme Tryme Tryme Tryme to put a sock in it.

Cynic
Reply to  The Sciolist
21, September 2014 8:26 pm

If you think tryme is wrong Trevor, why not argue your case instead of just whinging?

tryme
Reply to  The Sciolist
21, September 2014 8:35 pm

Thank you Cicero. Trevor, I turned with interest to your comment as I recall a recent one you made, but am sorry to find you feel like that. When people respond to comments you make, you often have something to say back to them, which bumps up the rate of posting. At least you won’t get anything from me here during most of the day Mon-Fris until… Read more »

Highway to Hell
20, September 2014 3:22 pm

OK, I think I am sort of getting the hang of this… 2 Councillors who were members of the ‘Elite Club’ are now not members of this elite club and, in fact, no longer of any club other than the ‘Sitting on our own’ club… They have been joined by another Councillor who at one point, may or may not have been a member of another party… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  Highway to Hell
20, September 2014 3:30 pm

First remove the PR element – quick! Peter Mandelson got his fingers into everything, and I’m not sure it helped the standard of politics in this country.

Robert Jones
Reply to  Highway to Hell
20, September 2014 3:44 pm

Good question. Probably the best question. What it seems to show – and this doesn’t really come as a great surprise to those of us who have been lurking around the political world for nearly 50 years – is that politics is politics is politics… You can call yourselves what you like, or call yourselves nothing at all, but once elected the jockeying for position starts (not… Read more »

isleoflove
Reply to  Robert Jones
20, September 2014 6:08 pm

Robert Jones – are you referring to the ex-Liberal Democrats? Have you heard that they (count them up quite surprising how many there are) will be dusting off their yellow rosettes on soon?

Robert Jones
Reply to  isleoflove
20, September 2014 7:03 pm

Well, some of my best friends are ex-Liberal Democrats; the better friends they be, the more ex- they are. They may well be evicting the moth from their yellow rosettes, but I really don’t think there are that many of them left in the actual party; or that they have much money left; or that they have many (any?) young activists to deliver their (wretched) Focus leaflets.… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  Highway to Hell
20, September 2014 8:37 pm

I wouldn’t want to condemn anyone whose written skills aren’t too good: it doesn’t mean that they don’t have other very good skills or a good brain.

When it comes to a job that requires a lot of reading, though, like being a councillor, one would hope they have certain supports in place to make up for it.

Robert Jones
Reply to  tryme
20, September 2014 9:05 pm

It doesn’t necessarily imply that, no. Some people who can’t string two words together can be entirely competent in practical things; some who are fluent can be useless in practical terms.

Unfortunately, there are others who can’t string a sentence together who also can’t so much as replace a fuse, or cross the road without an escort.

I think I’ll just leave that there…………..

bazaldog
20, September 2014 4:37 pm

Well, the Tory’s didn’t work for IWCC, Lib Dems didn’t work, Island First and Island Independants haven’t filled the gap either….perhaps it’s because of the same people standing every time but just waving different flags. All the we can do now is seriously hunt for NEW candidates for Labour and UKIP and try again! I’ve never voted labour in my life, but I can see the benefit… Read more »

tryme
Reply to  bazaldog
20, September 2014 4:47 pm

But isn’t it the Tories “blathering” that gives you this impression of the Indies?

Once the PR ball starts rolling, the Indies have to respond, and hey presto! people start blaming the Indies! The truth might be better (about them) than you think!

Robert Jones
Reply to  bazaldog
20, September 2014 7:26 pm

D’you know – given the personalities involved, rather than the politics – I can see a UKIP Labour coalition working down here: largely because that’s where the CHARACTERS seem to be. I can relate to a Lumley-Perks-Pitcher-Hollands administration so much more easily than I can to a Whitehouse-Chapman (How am I supposed to be voting?)- Stewart-and dammit, I’ve run out of names because all the others seem… Read more »

ThomasC
Reply to  Robert Jones
20, September 2014 11:19 pm

Roger Miazilius certainly must have had independence of mind from the body that was typing and the mouth that was speaking, given the idiotic emailed and spoken responses the silly old sod gave on various occasions. As for the ‘hands in pockets’ UKIPpers on the council – what have they actually contributed in this administration so far? Anything positive? I’m confident they’ll be as sure to claim… Read more »

Robert Jones
Reply to  ThomasC
21, September 2014 11:06 am

He was certainly capable of being a silly old sod, and doubtless still is. But there is a brain lurking beneath that generally affable exterior. It’s a Tory brain, of course – which is the problem with it. But to find a brain at all amongst local politicians is such a rarity that one can only applaud it when one finds it. Perhaps I was being over-generous,… Read more »

sam salt
20, September 2014 4:44 pm

Come on people, lovely afternoon out there, not many more to come this year. You should be out enjoying the sun not sat posting on blogs. I’m only here because I have come in to put something cooler on before another chilled glass of white wine in the garden listening to the birds.

Robert Jones
Reply to  sam salt
20, September 2014 7:06 pm

I was at a funeral this afternoon, Tess; don’t wish to enter an element of gloom, but whether the sun’s shining or it isn’t, we still have to live in the real world. Ghastly though it can be…..

sam salt
Reply to  Robert Jones
20, September 2014 7:45 pm

Robert, I am so sorry to hear how you spent your afternoon and cannot imagine how you must be feeling. Yes you are right we still have to live in the real world despite how dreadful the real world is. My real world is pretty dreadful not knowing what each day will bring with those that supposedly “know” giving me a timescale. I take each day as… Read more »

Cynic
Reply to  Robert Jones
21, September 2014 9:14 am

I spent the afternoon watching a rugby match. The Island home team lost. Despite having all the right intentions and lots of fight for the game they dropped the ball a few times: the other team scored more than once by taking advantage of the home team’s disorganisation and increased their hold on the game when the Island team was penalised for their apparent sketchy knowledge of… Read more »

bazaldog
20, September 2014 5:40 pm

Not too interested in who is blathering, but there is a group of people that we elected to sit together and sort out our home; and quite simply they obviously can’t be bothered. Instead they are too busy infighting and arguing the toss about nothing. Why can they not call an extraordinary meeting, closed to the public, and have a bl**dy good fight behind closed doors before… Read more »

sam salt
20, September 2014 7:22 pm

Right sun gone in, wine bottle empty, sob sob. Back to the subject. Firstly I am horrified at the letter from Charles Chapman (Ind Ind, previously Lib) sent in respect of his resignation shared with us by Geoff Lumley (Lab), and then edited by Chris Whitehouse (Con), no wonder we are in such a mess. Perhaps before Charles puts pen to paper in future he needs to… Read more »

Robert Jones
Reply to  sam salt
20, September 2014 7:41 pm

I agree we could do with more of his ilk; there ARE good people on the Isle of Wight Council; there are also wretched time-servers and committee-chasers – the trouble is that we keep electing the latter, and all too rarely elect the former. Maybe it would be good to take a risk now and then. The insurgency of the Independents was supposed to have permitted that,… Read more »

Geoff Lumley
Reply to  sam salt
20, September 2014 8:30 pm

Tess. I shared it to show the gulf between CC’s world and CW’s spin. Someone had to and as ever I put my name to a contribution, unlike the one who later sent it to the CP.. Sorry you don’t think it helped.

sam salt
Reply to  Geoff Lumley
20, September 2014 8:43 pm

Geoff, You did help and thank you for your openness and transparency. You have always been open, honest and transparent and coming from a closet tory that is high praise. I had dinner in the week with a high profile tory who told me that CC and IS had tory leanings very interesting if indeed what they were saying was right.

Black Dog
Reply to  sam salt
21, September 2014 8:25 am

Out at last. Could this be the real challenge to the leader out in the open?

kevin barclay-jay
20, September 2014 7:47 pm

One more to go and both sides will be equal….looks like two Labour Councillors could be very popular soon

Cynic
Reply to  kevin barclay-jay
20, September 2014 8:13 pm

… and think what deals the UKIPpers could demand of their ideological co-religionists!

Ian Young
20, September 2014 10:29 pm

Is it me or is this all getting a little heavy? In summary these naughty old Tories are taking advantage of a weak and disorganised opponent. Nothing new there then. The only way to beat these people is to be strong, organised, disciplined, and if necessary ruthless. Yes it’s called polities, it may mean getting your hands dirty, you may need to fight fire with fire, you… Read more »

Ian Young
Reply to  Ian Young
20, September 2014 10:32 pm

It is in fact called politics.

Robert Jones
Reply to  Ian Young
21, September 2014 11:10 am

It is indeed; and politics doesn’t really change, whatever label you plonk on it.

davimel
21, September 2014 11:29 am

I am utterly, totally and completely fed up with this bunch of wannabe pseudo ‘politicians’ running around shouting “sod those who voted for me…. I’m going my own way”..
The older I get, the more demoralised I become.
Maybe Communism aint so bad!

Bones
Reply to  davimel
21, September 2014 12:14 pm

…………….Meanwhile could some of them get back to work. Playtime is over and there is more than enough to sort out. The future of the residents of Undercliff Drive would be a good place to start.

Don smith
21, September 2014 10:29 pm

Most of these ?Independents:-) are preparing for the next election. They know, as a party, they are finished.

Most of them will return to their old political party, the dreaded Tory Party. God help us once again.

Independents, are at this time, Tories in disguise.

phil jordan
22, September 2014 7:53 am

don smith: Couple of things Don: *We* are not a political party… that requires official registration which we have not undertaken. We are a *group* which was formed after the election to be able to undertake the administration (constitutionally). We have suffered a blow from within, it’s a great pity but we shall get over this and we are not “finished” just yet! The task is, and… Read more »

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