Greater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 140 new officers to the force at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall on the evening of Wednesday 8 January 2020.

In the presence of family and friends, the new officers took the Police Oath in front of magistrate Stephen Paine. In the oath they swore to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official commencement of their police duties.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins welcomed each new recruit to the force.

Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough, was in attendance as was Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.

Yesterday, Tuesday 22 January 2019, Greater Manchester Police welcomed 100 new recruits to the Force. The officers were officially sworn in at a formal ceremony attended by Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, senior officers and magistrate Stephen Paine.

The attestation ceremony was held at Stockport Town Hall.

The Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Walter Brett, was also on hand to welcome the new recruits.

Family and friends watched the new officers make their oath to uphold their role with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality throughout their time in post.

New recruits have to complete a two year probation period which includes classroom based learning and a year of active patrol. During their training they will have the same of level of authority as regular officers, including the power of arrest.

The new recruits are replacing those who have either retired or left the organisation and therefore helping GMP to maintain current officer numbers.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Gaza flotilla raid was an operation by Israeli naval forces against several ships of the "Gaza Freedom Flotilla" in May 2010. The aid convoy attempted to land supplies in Gaza by way of the Mediterranean Sea and to thereby break Israel's maritime blockade of Gaza.

The six ships departed on 31 May 2010 carrying 663 people from 37 nations including activists and journalists. The ships were boarded in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Israeli sources said their forces boarded the ships after the flotilla refused calls to change course and head away from Gaza.

Nine passengers aboard the MV Mavi Marmara, the main ship of the convoy, were killed by Israeli soldiers. Several dozen passengers and ten Israeli soldiers were injured.

Videos released by the Israeli military and Turkish TV show that soldiers rappelled onto the deck from helicopters and were immediately ambushed by passengers. The Israeli soldiers opened fire at some point, but the sequence of events is disputed. Passengers say that the Israelis opened fire before boarding, while Israelis say that the firing occurred after the start of the on-deck skirmish. Passengers admitted fighting with the Israeli commandos but defended their actions as self-defense saying their ship was boarded by a military force in international waters. According to Israeli authorities, activists attacked its troops with live ammunition from pistols wrested from soldiers.

The attack prompted widespread international reactions from national authorities, supranational bodies and NGOs, as well as civilian demonstrations around the world. The United Nations Security Council and the UN Human Rights Council condemned "those acts resulting in civilian deaths," demanded an impartial investigation of the raid, and called for the immediate release of civilians held by Israel.

Israel responded that it would release 620 of the 682 arrested people and deport them back to their countries. The incident has further damaged the relations between Turkey and Israel.

The supplies seized by the Israelis were unloaded at the Ashdod port, inspected, and items approved by Israel were sent toward Gaza by land. Hamas refused to allow this shipment into Gaza unless Israel released all individuals detained from the flotilla and agreed to deliver all aid, including construction materials, currently being withheld.

Other reports state that Hamas refused the aid until the Gaza blockade is lifted.

MV Rachel Corrie is a 499 GT coaster owned and operated by the Irish arm of the Free Gaza Movement. The ship is named in honour of Rachel Corrie, a former member of the International Solidarity Movement. It was originally called Carsten and has also carried the names Norasia Attika and Manya.

In June 2010 the vessel was intercepted by Israeli Defence Forces while attempting to break the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and bring in humanitarian aid. The mission was partially funded by the Malaysian Perdana Global Peace Organisation

Final public meeting of the Planning Assessment Commission considering Rio Tinto's proposal to expand its Mt Thorley Warkworth open-cut coal project near the village of Bulga in the Hunter Valley.

***

Media statement from local community group 'Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association':

Bulga residents who have spent years battling Rio Tinto’s open cut coal mine expansion and twice won in court only to see the NSW government amend the law to make the project approvable, will be joined by supporters from around NSW at a final public hearing into the proposed expansion of the Warkworth mine which begins in Singleton today.

The Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) has received an extraordinary number of registrations to speak (122). On day 1 seven out of every 10 people will speak against the mine extension.

Mr John Krey, spokesperson for Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association, said, “Rio Tinto has put lipstick on a pig, but we know this latest coal mine expansion proposal, which will ruin the historic town of Bulga, is essentially the same one that was knocked back by both the Land and Environment Court and NSW Supreme Court.

“The expansion of the Warkworth mine is widely seen as the exemplar of the unfair advantage the NSW planning system gives mining companies over communities that are left struggling with the noise, dust and water impacts of open cut coal mining.

“Planning Minister Rob Stokes has said he wants to restore balance to mining decisions in the planning system. It will be too late for Bulga if he dithers any longer, because the Planning and Assessment Commission will very soon make a decision about this mine.

“A record number of 122 people will speak at the final Planning and Assessment Commission hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday, a tribute to the strength of both anger and support this David v Goliath battle has created over the last five years.

“The latest PAC report in March included a proposal to move the town, clearly admitting how damaging the mine expansion will be on Bulga and our daily life.

“Rio Tinto’s greedy push to expand its mine will destroy Aboriginal heritage, precious bushland, wildlife, water courses and the peaceful enjoyment of our historic town.

“My community is weary of this fight, but we are no way defeated. Both Rio Tinto and the Baird government will continue to feel the heat if this proposal is approved,” Mr Krey said.

Georgina Woods, spokesperson for Lock the Gate Alliance said, “The NSW government has greased the way for Rio Tinto to get approval for this project, regardless of the terrible costs we know it will wreck on Bulga and the cultural and natural heritage of this part of the Hunter Valley. People are frankly fed up with the mining industry’s greed and insensitivity, and that’s why so many people from around the state are here today to support Bulga in this iconic battle.

“Following this community’s victory in court the approval process was changed to put economic considerations above the impacts on water, biodiversity, amenity and other land uses. The public will have no right to test the merits of the Planning and Assessment Commission’s decision in court. The whole situation has been stitched up to suit a multi-national mining company - it’s deeply unjust.

“We think the Planning and Assessment Commission has enough information to knock back this mine, but we also know that Commission is not allowed to make an impartial decision. They are instructed by the regulation to put the economic interests of the mining industry ahead of the interests of the community. The Government has to intervene and fix this mess, or they will be haunted by this mining project for years to come.”

From the autumn 2016 trip to Vietnam:

If ever there were a good way to finish up a trip, this particular Sunday in October would be it. Before arriving in Hanoi, I honestly had exceptionally low expectations. A bit like Saigon, if you are to go online and try to look up a list of places to visit – basically a tourist’s stock photography checklist, as it may be – you don’t find much that’s appealing. Well…I didn’t, anyway, and as a result, I had pretty low expectations for Hanoi.

The charm and beauty of Hanoi, however, isn’t in any one particular place. It’s in the experience of the entire city. (I’d say the same for Saigon, but multiply that a few times for Hanoi.) On this day in the Old Quarter in particular, I kept finding myself thinking, “Oh, my God, I shouldn’t be this lucky as a photographer…” Today ended up being mostly about people, with a little food and historical locations mixed in.

As I mentioned in the last set of posting, today would start off a bit sad with Junebug leaving for China a day before I would. So, we were checked out of our room by 6:00 in the morning or so. The breakfast at the Art Trendy was wonderful. Buffet with a mix of made-to-order omelets mixed in. Strong work, Art Trendy, strong work…

When June left, I really had nothing to do since it was still six in the morning and I was temporarily homeless as I had to switch hotels. So…I sat around the lobby for about two hours (possibly slightly awkward for the poor girls working there, but oh, well; I had to sit somewhere).

Around 8:00, I finally dragged my old bones out of the hotel and walked the five to ten minutes down the street to the Aquarius, where I politely asked them to hold my non-camera bag until I come back around 1:00 in the afternoon to check in.

After that, I was finally off with my cameras to enjoy an early Sunday morning in the bustling Old Quarter. On the street where the hotel is situated are a number of restaurants where locals were jammed in to enjoy noodles, steamed buns, and the like. It was wonderful to be among that crowd (though someone tried to scold me ever so slightly for taking pictures of people eating).

Since this was right next to St. Joseph’s Cathedral – and it was Sunday morning – I found my way back into the church where we crashed the wedding the afternoon before and realized that I almost got locked into Sunday mass while walking around taking pictures. So…I stayed. I prayed. And my prayer was answered when I realized the side doors and even the back door were open. (Ok…I didn’t really think I was locked in a church, but it did feel like it a little bit.)

Upon exiting the church, a handful of frames under my belt, I walked along the lovely streets photographing shops and people. At Caphe, I piggybacked on someone else’s photo shoot – it looked like they were doing a promo for the place, or possibly just a personal shoot for five women, though I have a feeling it was the former. At any rate, I was quite pleased with that little set and am presenting quite a few of those here, even if they’re a little redundant.

My ultimate goal with this wandering was to find my way to the Hanoi Hilton. Now, I’m not taking about the hotel chain, of course, but rather the prison that U.S. prisoners of war sarcastically called the Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War. (This is the prison where Senator John McCain was interred while a POW, and there are one or two pictures to that effect here.)

This prison has a particularly interesting history (and morbid since…well…it’s a prison). It’s about a hundred years old and was founded by the French colonialists around the turn of the 20th century. During the first 50 years of its history, the French imprisoned Vietnamese insurgents and those who wanted independence. In the eyes of the French…renegades (hence the imprisonment). In the eyes of the Vietnamese – especially the current government – patriots and national heroes. If they were truly freedom fighters, then I would probably side with the current government on that one.

The French even had a guillotine installed here and overcrowding was a major problem. There were plenty of escape attempts, and more were successful than you may think, which is a little peculiar.

After the battle of Bien Dien Phu and the ejection of the French from the north (and before the U.S. got involved in the south), the prison changed hands and was under control of Ho Chi Minh. During the Vietnam War, it became one of the main prisons for U.S. POWs, as I alluded to above.

The propaganda claims that the Vietcong were absolutely humane and decent with U.S. prisoners, allowing them to observe their religious rites (Christmas celebrations, etc.), allowed prisoners to smoke and enjoy leisure (board games, basketball, etc.), and claimed they were well-fed.

This is certainly how it’s presented in the prison/museum currently. If you were to go online, though, and try to find a contrary report, you would find that this was all coerced and staged to make it appear as if things were on the up and up. (For anyone curious, per my Vietnamese friends, the general education in Vietnam today is how terrible the French and U.S. were for colonizing and torturing the country and keeping it from its independence.)

So, what’s the truth of what really happened? Who knows? Outside of firsthand accounts, it’s impossible to know for certain and even then, memory can be a tricky thing. I tend to like to say the truth is always somewhere between two opposing viewpoints, no matter what the topic may be.

From an impartial and purely photographic point of view, the prison, currently a museum/memorial, is an interesting place to spend an hour or two. Some of the exhibits seem a bit cheesy, but some are quite tasteful and well done. There’s also an informational video. You’ll have to see this with a bit of imagination (the prison, that is), as at least half of it has been leveled for high rise buildings. At least there’s some tangible piece of it left to visit, including the main gate (Maison Centrale).

After about two hours here at the Hanoi Hilton, I walked over towards the Opera House to get a few daytime shots but, really, to get lunch at El Gaucho. I was looking forward to a proper steak. The prices were astronomical (though justifiable based on what I ate), though I just opted for a steak salad. It was so good I contemplated going back for dinner, but had other plans.

With a happy stomach, I went back to finally check in at the Aquarius Hotel and got my workout huffing up six flights of stairs each time I went out. I relaxed here for a few hours until 4:00 when a dear friend of mine came to town to see me.

Ngan and I had an ice cream at Baskin Robbins right in front of St. Joe’s before heading over to the Temple of Literature. This is a temple dedicated to education and, bless my soul, it’s a place where university graduates come for graduation pictures.

On this particular day – a warm, sunny, late Sunday afternoon – it was packed with college students. And it was beautiful to see that many people happy, full of hopes and dreams, and dressed in either cap and gown or traditional Vietnamese clothes. In short…I had a field day shooting for an hour here.

Around 5:00, Ngan had to head back to school, and I went back to my hotel. I had one more meeting. Hoa, who traveled around Thailand & Cambodia with me in May, flew back to see me this evening. She picked me up at 6:00 on her scooter and rode me all around Hanoi by evening.

She started by taking me to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (which I consider a lot more photogenic in its setting than the Great Gangster’s Mausoleum on Tiananmen Square). This one, at least, was in a parklike setting. At evening, it’s well-lit and you can find people relaxing in the grass in front of it. During the day, you can visit and there are quite a few buildings behind the mausoleum that you can also see.

After a few minutes here, Hoa took me by West Lake – the largest lake in Hanoi, as I mentioned yesterday – and just drove me around for over an hour, it seemed. My impressions that Hanoi (even out of the Old Quarter) seemed to be a good place to live – though I’d be concerned about the air pollution – and people here seemed to be happy. Also…Vietnamese really love their coffee.

We finally returned to the Old Quarter for dinner at one of the famous restaurants she recommended and she treated me to a wonderful dinner. I can’t recall what we ate (the Vietnamese names of it, anyway), but it was nice.

After dinner, she drove me over towards the Opera House and then, finally, we stopped by Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of the Quarter and walked around the lake. It was getting close to 10:00 by this time, and I wanted to get back to the hotel to get a few hours sleep before waking up for my early flight in the morning. Hoa came to the airport with me to see me off.

If ever there were a great way to finish a great trip, this was it. I absolutely loved Vietnam – honestly, a lot more than I imagined I would, even with every single person I know who’d ever come here saying what a fantastic country this is – and would gladly come back. This seems to be one of the kinds of countries that you would never get tired of or, if you did, it would sure take a long time. With that, I’ll bid goodbye to Vietnam for now with the hopes that I’ll someday return to this land of amazing food, landscapes, and people.

As always, thanks for dropping by and viewing these pictures. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments and I’ll answer as I have time.

Greater Manchester Police has welcomed 89 new police officers to the ranks.

The new recruits were sworn in at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall last night, Tuesday 11 June 2019.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling, Deputy Major of Greater Manchester Bev Hughes and Magistrate Joan Cooper were in attendance at the event.

The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough and her consort were guests of honour.

Family and friends of the new officers watched on proudly as each of took an oath to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Greater Manchester Police has welcomed 89 new police officers to the ranks.

The new recruits were sworn in at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall last night, Tuesday 11 June 2019.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling, Deputy Major of Greater Manchester Bev Hughes and Magistrate Joan Cooper were in attendance at the event.

The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough and her consort were guests of honour.

Family and friends of the new officers watched on proudly as each of took an oath to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Greater Manchester Police has welcomed 89 new police officers to the ranks.

The new recruits were sworn in at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall last night, Tuesday 11 June 2019.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling, Deputy Major of Greater Manchester Bev Hughes and Magistrate Joan Cooper were in attendance at the event.

The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough and her consort were guests of honour.

Family and friends of the new officers watched on proudly as each of took an oath to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Greater Manchester Police has welcomed 89 new police officers to the ranks.

The new recruits were sworn in at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall last night, Tuesday 11 June 2019.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling, Deputy Major of Greater Manchester Bev Hughes and Magistrate Joan Cooper were in attendance at the event.

The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough and her consort were guests of honour.

Family and friends of the new officers watched on proudly as each of took an oath to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Greater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 152 new officers in the force's largest attestation ceremony to date on the evening of Tuesday 22nd October 2019, at Stockport Town Hall.

In front of family and friends, all officers partook in the Police Oath which is their promise to the Queen in front of a magistrate to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official start of the officers commencing their duties, and is a milestone to be celebrated.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was in attendance to welcome each and every new recruit to the force.

Also in attendance were Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor, Baroness Beverley Hughes and the Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Laura Booth.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.

Greater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 152 new officers in the force's largest attestation ceremony to date on the evening of Tuesday 22nd October 2019, at Stockport Town Hall.

In front of family and friends, all officers partook in the Police Oath which is their promise to the Queen in front of a magistrate to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official start of the officers commencing their duties, and is a milestone to be celebrated.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was in attendance to welcome each and every new recruit to the force.

Also in attendance were Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor, Baroness Beverley Hughes and the Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Laura Booth.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.

Monday 3 April 2017, saw 85 new recruits officially welcomed by Greater Manchester Police.

The student officers were sworn in as part of a special ceremony to formally make them police officers.

The Attestation Ceremony which was held at Stockport Town Hall and was an opportunity for family and friends to witness the group make their oath to uphold their role with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality throughout their service.

The group of new recruits were affirmed into their roles by the Chief Constable Ian Hopkins. He was joined by magistrates Peter Rogerson and Stephen Paine as well as the Mayor and Mayoress of Stockport, Councillor Chris Gordon and Doctor Margaret Gordon.

The new officers come from a range of backgrounds and bring lots of new skills with them that will assist as they start their new role policing their communities. Many of them are fluent in a second language, which will help give access to our services for all communities in Greater Manchester.

The recruits who are made up from civilian applicants will have to complete a two year probation period, including classroom based learning and one year on active patrol.

During their training they will have the same of level of authority as regular officers, including the power of arrest.

Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, said: “This ceremony like those we have held previously is an important occasion for the police force and our community. We are committed to neighbourhood policing as highlighted in the recent HMIC inspection report. These officers will replace those colleagues who are retiring and will be an asset to the neighbourhood teams they join across the Force.

“This Attestation Ceremony, like those in coming months, is being held locally and this also highlights how GMP endeavours to remain a part of the area it serves. Our new recruits have been through the most rigorous of tests and will have to work hard to truly understand and support our society.

“This group along with those that have been previously attested will be an asset to GMP and I wish them all of the success for the future.”

Tony Lloyd Greater Manchester Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Congratulations to all our new recruits as they become police officers and take on the responsibility to serve our communities and keep people safe. It fills me with pride to have been able to welcome two waves of new recruits in my last year as Police and Crime Commissioner.

“By maintaining police officer numbers, we have been also been able to maintain the security and safety of the people of Greater Manchester. And, by building a force that reflects our communities, we are able to ensure that everybody feels represented and respected.”

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Declaration of 4,000 MPs, including majorities of 30 parliaments

Moreover, a deceleration by over 4,000 MPs from 40 countries across the globe in support of the Iranian Resistance and especially Ashraf residents was unveiled at the gathering. The MPs, including the majority of the European Parliament, the majority of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and majorities of 28 national parliaments, called for the urgent protection of Ashraf by the UN, U.S. and EU, the immediate lifting of the siege on Ashraf – especially ensuring free access to medical services – and an impartial, comprehensive and independent investigation into the crimes committed on April 8th in Ashraf

In a large and exhilarating gathering held in the Villepinte Auditorium near Paris on Saturday afternoon, 18 June 2011, Iranians called for the immediate protection of Ashraf by the UN with assistance provided by the U.S. and EU. They also condemned any kind of displacement of Ashraf residents inside Iraq, and declared their support for Europe’s peaceful long-term solution for Ashraf. The participants described maintaining the terrorist tag against the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) by the US State Department as an illegal measure and tantamount to participating in the repression of the Iranian people and Resistance. The attendees called on the U.S. government to comply with last July's verdict of the U.S. Court of Appeals in D.C. and immediately revoke the PMOI's terrorist designation.

Hundreds of prominent politicians and MPs representing a broad range of political views from countries in five continents of the globe also took part in the largest gathering of its kind by Iranian exiles. In addition to expressing their support for the Iranian Resistance and defending Ashraf’s rights, the high-profile dignitaries also called for the recognition of the National Council of Resistance by the international community

Rudolph Giuliani, former New York City Mayor and Presidential Candidate (2008); US Congressman Bob Filner; Rita Sussmouth, former Speaker of the German Parliament (1988-1998); Judge Michael Mukasey, former US Attorney General (2007-2009); Ambassador John Bruton, former Prime Minister of Ireland (1994-1997) and EU ambassador to the US (2004-2005); Jean-Pierre Brard, Member of French National Assembly; Andrew Card, White House Chief of Staff of President George Bush (2001-2006); Tom Ridge, first US Secretary of Homeland Security (2003-2005); Alejo Vidal Quadras, European Parliament Vice President; Geir Haarde, former Prime Minister of Iceland (2006-2009); Lord Corbett of Castle Vale, Head of the Labour Peers group in the House of Lords; Nariman al-Rousan, Member of Jordanian Parliament; Aude de Thuin, author and founder of the Women Forum; Sid Ahmed Ghozali, former Prime Minister of Algeria; Robert Torricelli, former U.S. Senator; Carlo Ciccioli, Member of the Italian Parliament; Jean-Charles Rielle, Member of the Swiss Federal Parliament; and Henry Leclerc, Honorary President of the Human Rights League of France.

A number of French mayors, including Jean-Pierre Béquet, Mayor of Auvers-sur-Oise; Nelly Rolland, Mayor of Villepinte; and Maurice Boscavert, Mayor of Taverny, delivered speeches and declared the support of 5,000 French mayors for the Iranian Resistance.

The ceremony was held on the eve of June 20th, the Day of Martyrs and Political Prisoners in Iran. The master of ceremony for the first part of the event was Congressman Patrick Kennedy, Member of US House of Representatives until 2011. David Amess, Member of British Parliament from the Conservative Party, took over the event for the second part.

While being accompanied by Mrs. Rezaii (the mother of 7 martyrs), Mahin Saremi and a number of French MPs, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi honored the memory of 120,000 martyrs of the Iranian people, who have fallen during the three decade struggle against the clerical dictatorship, including the martyrs of the past two years and those who lost their lives as a result of the recent criminal attack against Ashraf.

Mrs. Mahin Saremi, the wife of PMOI supporter Ali Saremi, also took part in the gathering. Ali Saremi was Iran’s most prominent political prisoner and was hanged last year by the Iranian regime after enduring 24 years of imprisonment and torture. Mrs. Saremi, who herself was arrested and imprisoned several times since the 1980s, was recently condemned to 10 years of imprisonment but managed to flee from the Iranian regime and reach Paris. Akbar, the son of Ali and Mahin Saremi, is among the residents of Ashraf.

Powerful Portadown profit from poor performanceby Roger Corbett

A powerful Portadown side gained revenge for their defeat by Bangor in the Junior Cup last season by taking advantage of the home team’s poor performance and deservedly finishing ahead by 24-43.

With a number of changes to the side that did so well against Dromore last week, a young Bangor side got this second round Junior Cup fixture underway. The playing conditions were good, with the breeze blowing across the pitch and not benefiting either side. From the outset, Portadown played the game at a fast pace, and pushed Bangor back into their own half for long periods. Both sides, however, made many unforced errors and as a result promising attacks were halted.

After 10 minutes of play, it was Bangor who got the scoreboard started, when Portadown conceded a penalty for being offside and Mark Thompson converted the kicking opportunity. Portadown then resumed their attacks and it looked like they would score next. However, from a lineout on the Portadown twenty two, the ball was taken by Freddie Black before the rest of the pack formed around him and started to drive for the line. The rolling maul moved slowly forwards and sideways until one final push saw captain Jamie Clegg carried over to score to the right of the Portadown posts. The conversion by Neil Cuthbertson was successful and Bangor were now 10-0 ahead.

Even an impartial observer might have commented that this score was against the run of play, but to Bangor’s credit they took their chances well. Unfortunately, just 5 minutes later Bangor were reduced to 14 men after Black was yellow carded. From the resulting penalty, Portadown kicked for touch, and secured the ball from the lineout. They patiently worked the ball through their forwards until a gap opened up in the Bangor defence, allowing an easy run through to score under the Bangor posts. With the conversion, the score was now 10-7.

With only a few minutes of the first half remaining, Portadown continued to push forward and from a good cross field kick, they took advantage of the reduced Bangor cover and scored in the left hand corner. The tricky kick into the wind was successful, and Portadown were now in front by 10-14. To add to Bangor’s woes, scrum half Danny Diamond had to retire injured with what looks like a broken collar bone, and front row forward Phil Whyte limped off with a bad calf injury – we wish both a full and speedy recovery. Undeterred, Bangor tried to fight back and came very close in the final minute when more good forward play got the ball over the Portadown line, but it wasn’t able to be grounded.

As the teams turned around, Bangor would probably have been the happier with the scoreline, especially given the amount of possession Portadown had enjoyed in the first half. However, over the course of the following 20 odd minutes, and largely as a result of their own mistakes, their task became much harder. It started with another poor Bangor lineout which Portadown won and simply broke through to score in the right hand corner. The kick was good, extending the lead to 10-21. Then Bangor lost the ball in contact in the centre of the pitch, allowing the Portadown backline to quickly move the ball wide to their winger who rounded the Bangor defence to score under the posts.

Finally, from their scrum, Portadown took advantage of some missed tackles to open up a gap and score again under the Bangor posts. The score was now 10-35, and Bangor had a mountain to climb.

If the game looked lost at this point, nobody had obviously told Jamie Clegg. From Mark Thompson’s restart, Clegg ran in pursuit and managed to snatch the ball from the Portadown receiving player. He then had just enough time to pass outside to Neil Cuthbertson who managed to negotiate 3 Portadown defenders to score, and reduce the deficit to 17-35, with 26 minutes gone.

Shortly afterwards, the Portadown hooker was yellow carded. However, instead of capitalising on this advantage, Bangor then conceded another penalty, this time in front of their posts. The Portadown kicker gratefully took the 3 points, making the score 17-38.

It was around this point that it was starting to look like Portadown were paying the price for their furious onslaught in the first half. Bangor sensed the weakness and started to play their best rugby of the game so far. Patient build-ups by the forwards, accompanied by strong runs from the backs, produced the opportunity for full back Davy Charles to dive under his tacklers to score beside the posts. Cuthbertson’s quick kick was good, and the score was now 24-38.

As the final play approached, and the end result no longer in question, yet another lineout mix-up gave Portadown possession again. With the Bangor defence largely flat footed, Portadown cut through and, despite a desperate covering tackle by Charles, touched down for the final score of the game. Although the kick was missed, Portadown’s victory was by an emphatic 24-43 margin.

This young Bangor side can learn much from their older, wiser opponents. While fitness and commitment is not in question, consistency of technique in basic set pieces, and retention of the ball when in contact would need to improve, or at least return to levels seen in earlier games. While the disappointment of an early exit from the Junior Cup cannot be denied, the focus will now be wholly on returning to success in the league, the next fixture being a home meeting with Cooke.

Bangor side: P Whyte (P Dornan), A Jackson, J Harrison, R Meeke, F Black, M Coey, J Clegg (c), C Stewart, D Diamond (P Nicol), M Thompson, M Widdowson, M Aspley, M Weir, N Cuthbertson, D Charles

Subs: P Nicol, P Dornan

Bangor scores: J Clegg (1T), N Cuthbertson (1T), D Charles (1T), M Thompson (1P, 3C)

The Mobility Roadshow –

why visit?

Presenting the finest in mobility innovation for 30 years, the national Mobility Roadshow is the original hands-on mobility event, showcasing the best possible products and services for an independent lifestyle. Whether you want to test drive, have a go at sport, driving experiences, rock climbing or just find out what’s new in the mobility market – it’s all here!

Inspirational - be amazed at life-changing productsand new ideas for YOUR independent lifestyle

Informative - gain a wealth of expert help, information and advice

Interactive - test drive vehicles, wheelchairs, powerchairs, scooters, cycles; join in sport, watch demonstrations, activities for all the family

What is it?

The UK’s most comprehensive event of its kind, it is THE annual mobility and lifestyle consumer event, showcasing a huge variety of products and services to aid an independent lifestyle. The Mobility Roadshow aims to give anyone with a mobility problem - drivers, passengers, adults or children - the chance to assess what is available to help solve that problem and most importantly to try out and evaluate the options in a ‘no pressure’ environment

Whether you have a disability that affects your mobility, or you’re an older person who is finding mobility that little bit more restricted than it used to be, the Mobility Roadshow is your one-stop shop for independence and freedom. It offers, quite simply, the best possible showcase of mobility products and services anywhere in the UK.

When and where is the next show?

Telford International Centre, 27th-29th June 2013

Who organises it?

The Mobility Roadshow is organised by registered charity Mobility Choice.

How much does it cost to get in?

Admission, parking and showguide are free, as are all activities on site.

Is it just for people with disabilities?

Not at all - there are all kinds of devices that could help people of any age who may be experiencing mobility problems through something like arthritis or stiffening joints – swivel seats make getting in and out of a car much easier, while lightweight portable scooters that fit easily in the boot of a car can be a real help for shopping or leisure activities for the less mobile.

Who exhibits at the Roadshow?

Around 160 companies and organisations, including several of the major car companies, plus vehicle adaptation and conversion specialists, mobility aids manufacturers, scooter and wheelchair manufacturers, information and advice services, charities, mobility insurance specialists; sport, leisure and holiday companies; plus a range of equipment and services for an independent lifestyle.

What sort of products will I see?

Latest cars and converted vehicles fitted with adaptations; the widest range of wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVS); lightweight, sports, power and manual wheelchairs; hand controls; hoists; car seats; commercial vehicles; battery chargers; trikes and scooters; walkers; rotating car seats; specialist wheels and tyres; suspension systems; ramps; seat clamps; wheelchair restraints; independent living aids and numerous gizmos and gadgets to make life easier for anyone with a mobility problem.

Can I have a go on things?

Yes, this is the original ‘hands-on’ mobility event for consumers. There are opportunities to test drive adapted vehicles and specialist wheelchair-accessible conversions, scooters and wheelchairs and to try out products before you even think about buying, so you can compare all the available options. As well as test driving vehicles, you can try out wheelchairs and scooters on a dedicated Mobility Test Track, plus interactive Sports Arena, and our ever-popular accessible rock-climbing wall with experienced helpers to get you to the top!

You mean I actually get to test drive vehicles?

Yes – many of the major motor manufacturers and conversion specialists will have a range of adapted vehicles available to try out – make sure you bring your driving licence with you. For the first time in the Roadshow's 30-year history, test drives will take place on the public roads around the International Centre, accompanied by a professional driver at all times and dual controls fitted to each vehicle (full licence holders only). You can register to test drive in advance, either through the website or by post.

Is it just for Motability customers?

No. The Roadshow is for anyone who has a mobility problem, whether you have a vehicle through the Motability scheme or you own one privately.

Can I bring the kids?

Yes, it`s a fun day out for all the family. There’s a variety of entertainment such as jugglers, clowns, magicians, face painters or balloon sculptors – plenty to see and do for everyone.

What about sport?

The Roadshow’s interactive Sports Arena offers you a chance to really get involved in a range of sports such as basketball, rugby, sledge hockey, and find out about what’s available in your area.

Can I hire a wheelchair or scooter?

Yes. Wheelchairs and scooters can be pre-booked (subject to availability), and some will be available on the day.

Will I really get impartial advice?

Yes. The Roadshow is all about choice and opportunity. A large number of charitable organisations and information services will be offering impartial advice on a range of mobility issues.

Did you know?

* There are over 10 million disabled people in the UK, that’s over 15% of the population.

* There are 2.3 million blue badge holders in the UK, indicating that they have a significant mobility problem.

* Mobility vehicles represent around 20% of the UK car market.

* Over 5.5 million disabled people are of working age, which represents 16% of the working population. However only 50% of disabled people of working age are in employment compared to 87% of non-disabled people of working age.

*Around 40% of the UK population is over 45 - the age at which the incidence of disability begins to increase significantly.

* The estimated annual purchasing power of people with disabilities is £40-£50 billion

* Over half the population over 75 has some kind of disability – 70% have difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

* 85% of disabled people in the UK were not born disabled, but became so in later life through accident or illness.

* 66% of disabled people are older people. In the next 50 years the number of over 60s will double and the number of over 80s will treble.

www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk/

I have visited Minster perhaps more than any other village in Kent. This is because the station is an excellent spot from which to snap steam tours as they manoeuvre to take the avoiding chord to Deal and Dover. And each time I go I try to get into St Mary the Virgin and I find the door locked fast.

The week before whilst visiting Monkton, I met one of the wardens who assured me that Minster would be open every Saturday morning for bellringing practice.

Saturday morning came round and so I headed to Minster with my friend Will to snap it, if it was open. Although it appeared to be locked, the door was just stiff and soon gave way to the wonders inside.

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Minster Abbey on the Isle of Thanet was founded in AD 669 by Domneva, niece of King Erconbert of Kent. The enormous parish church, built some distance to the south-west of the abbey, dates from two distinct periods. The nave is Norman, a magnificent piece of twelfth-century arcading with tall cylindrical pillars. The chancel and transepts are thirteenth century, with a three-light east window, each one double shafted inside. This end of the church has a simple stone vaulted ceiling which adds greatly to the grandeur. The glass is by Thomas Willement and dates from 1861. Ewan Christian restored the church in 1863 and added vaulted ceilings to the transepts. They had been intended by the medieval designers, but were never built. There is a set of eighteen fifteenth-century stalls with misericords and an excellent sixteenth-century font and cover.

kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Minster+in+Thanet

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he history of Minster church is entwined with that of Minster Abbey. The abbey was founded in 670AD, when Ermenburga of Mercia accepted a gift of land from Egbert of Kent as weregild for the murder of her younger brothers at the king's court, so that she could found a nunnery on the Isle of Thanet. According to legend, the boundary of the land granted to Ermenburga was determined by the course her pet deer took when released to wander on its own. With the addition of later grants of land the estates of Minster Abbey encompassed about half of Thanet. The abbey was ransacked by the Danes, and abandoned for a time before it was refounded by the monks of Canterbury, who rebuilt the Saxon timber buildings in stone. Throughout this early part of the abbey's history the monastic church served both the nuns and the townsfolk as a parish church. For a more detailed history of Minster Abbey see our article on the abbey.

There is some confusion over what part of the church is the oldest; the nave dates to 1150, and the chancel may be slightly earlier. The tower is said to be Saxon; it certainly has old stonework and a very odd turret stair, but the material is Caen stone which only truly became popular after the Norman Conquest. So it may not be as old as it appears at first glance. The turret may have simply been a shipping lookout, for in the Middle Ages Minster had a busy port and the Wentsum Channel lapped at the base of the churchyard wall. The tower and the nave walls also contain Roman bricks.

But that's nitpicking; the church is very obviously of ancient origin and even more obviously an impressive example of medieval architecture, with features covering every century since the Norman invasion - and probably before.

We've already mentioned the 12th century nave, which has remained almost unaltered since it was built. The north aisle pillars have capitals decorated with foliage carvings, while in the aisle is a wall monument to Thomas Paramore (d. ). At the north end of the aisle is the Thorne Chapel, with the 13th century tomb of Aedile de Thorne. Look up at the lancet windows and you will see a stained glass depiction of a stag, the symbol of Thanet after the story of Ermenburga's deer.

The chancel is a true highlight; one of the finest of any parish churches in Kent. It is primarily in Early English style, with a much later Victorian east window by Thomas Willement, the “Father of Victorian Stained Glass”.

But the real highlight in the chancel are the wonderful medieval misericords that decorate the choir stalls. The early 15th century stalls feature no fewer than 18 carved misericords. These 'mercy seats' were used to provide a comfortable place for monks to rest during long services. There are 18 misericords here, probably carved in 1410, and they cover an array of subjects including a cook with a ladle, an angel playing a stringed instrument, a serpent eating its own tail, a king, dragons, lions, and other strange beasts. Perhaps the strangest, a certainly the one that tells us most about medieval society, is a depiction of a 'scold's bridle'; a woman with a bit in her mouth, intended to stop her from speaking. Together these make up one of the finest collection of misericords in the south east of England.

There are several interesting bits and bobs in the south aisle, including a cover of a wooden chained Bible in a glass display case. At the west end is a 12th century Norman font near an ancient iron-bound muniment chest, unusually made of fir with a lid of elm.

Spare a glance for the list of vicars by the door. I seldom pay these long lists much attention, but in this case there are several interesting characters among the incumbents at Minster. One was Seth Travis (1547), the first appointment made by the Archbishop of Canterbury after the Dissolution of the Monastery. Richard Clerk (1597) was one of those learned scholars named by James I to hammer out the details of the King James Bible. Then there is Meric Casaubon (1634) who was deposed by Parliament in 1644 for his Royalist sympathies. In 1652 Cromwell asked him to write a history of the war, setting down impartially 'nothing but matters of fact'. He declined. When Charles II came to the throne at the Restoration, Casaubon was reinstated as vicar of Minster.

While Casaubon was suspended during the war, however, Minster was saddled with Richard Culmer, aka 'Blue Dick'. Culmer was a virulent iconoclast, and a bitter enemy of Episcopy. He was best known for destroying monuments and breaking up stained glass at Canterbury Cathedral. So unpopular was his appointment among the townsfolk that he had trouble collecting church tithes. His name is conspicuous by its absence from the list of vicars. And speaking of such lists, Henry Wharton (1688) was the first to popularise the making of such lists of incumbents, an act he thought might impart a sense of continuity to Church of England churches. A later vicar, John Lewis (1708) wrote over a thousand sermons in his time at Minster. On his death he ordered them destroyed, fearing that vicars who followed him might find the temptation of plagiarising his works too great.

www.britainexpress.com/counties/kent/churches/minster.htm

I keep finding myself coming back to this particular shot.

This might very well be one of the hottest shots I've ever done!

Maybe I'm just biased? (Oh, I'm biased all right!)

We need impartial (or less partial) validation here, so I launched this tastiness toward the groups. I'll get my answer!

I bet she flies... :)

Party: Adam's Halloween B-Day Bash

Venue: supperclub cruise

Coverage by: Waking up in Amsterdam!

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has welcomed 113 new police officers to the ranks.

The new recruits were sworn in at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall last night, Tuesday 24 October 2017.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, Police and Magistrate Peter Rogerson were in attendance at the legally binding event.

Family and friends of the new officers watched on proudly as each of them made an oath to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Greater Manchester Police has welcomed 89 new police officers to the ranks.

The new recruits were sworn in at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall last night, Tuesday 11 June 2019.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling, Deputy Major of Greater Manchester Bev Hughes and Magistrate Joan Cooper were in attendance at the event.

The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough and her consort were guests of honour.

Family and friends of the new officers watched on proudly as each of took an oath to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Yesterday, Tuesday 22 January 2019, Greater Manchester Police welcomed 100 new recruits to the Force. The officers were officially sworn in at a formal ceremony attended by Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, senior officers and magistrate Stephen Paine.

The attestation ceremony was held at Stockport Town Hall.

The Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Walter Brett, was also on hand to welcome the new recruits.

Family and friends watched the new officers make their oath to uphold their role with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality throughout their time in post.

New recruits have to complete a two year probation period which includes classroom based learning and a year of active patrol. During their training they will have the same of level of authority as regular officers, including the power of arrest.

The new recruits are replacing those who have either retired or left the organisation and therefore helping GMP to maintain current officer numbers.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Yesterday, Tuesday 22 January 2019, Greater Manchester Police welcomed 100 new recruits to the Force. The officers were officially sworn in at a formal ceremony attended by Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, senior officers and magistrate Stephen Paine.

The attestation ceremony was held at Stockport Town Hall.

The Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Walter Brett, was also on hand to welcome the new recruits.

Family and friends watched the new officers make their oath to uphold their role with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality throughout their time in post.

New recruits have to complete a two year probation period which includes classroom based learning and a year of active patrol. During their training they will have the same of level of authority as regular officers, including the power of arrest.

The new recruits are replacing those who have either retired or left the organisation and therefore helping GMP to maintain current officer numbers.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Yesterday, Tuesday 22 January 2019, Greater Manchester Police welcomed 100 new recruits to the Force. The officers were officially sworn in at a formal ceremony attended by Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, senior officers and magistrate Stephen Paine.

The attestation ceremony was held at Stockport Town Hall.

The Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Walter Brett, was also on hand to welcome the new recruits.

Family and friends watched the new officers make their oath to uphold their role with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality throughout their time in post.

New recruits have to complete a two year probation period which includes classroom based learning and a year of active patrol. During their training they will have the same of level of authority as regular officers, including the power of arrest.

The new recruits are replacing those who have either retired or left the organisation and therefore helping GMP to maintain current officer numbers.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Greater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 152 new officers in the force's largest attestation ceremony to date on the evening of Tuesday 22nd October 2019, at Stockport Town Hall.

In front of family and friends, all officers partook in the Police Oath which is their promise to the queen in front of a magistrate to uphold the office oGreater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 152 new officers in the force's largest attestation ceremony to date on the evening of Tuesday 22nd October 2019, at Stockport Town Hall.

In front of family and friends, all officers partook in the Police Oath which is their promise to the Queen in front of a magistrate to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official start of the officers commencing their duties, and is a milestone to be celebrated.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was in attendance to welcome each and every new recruit to the force.

Also in attendance were Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor, Baroness Beverley Hughes and the Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Laura Booth.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.

constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official start of the officers commencing their duties, and is a milestone to be celebrated.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was in attendance to welcome each and every new recruit to the force

Also in attendance were Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor, Baroness Beverley Hughes and the Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Laura Booth.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.

Dickie Bird's white cap, twitching shoulders and forearm stretch became as much a part of the day out as the battle between bat and ball. He seemed to attract minor incident, without ever allowing the day to be soured by controversy. Burst pipes, reflecting windscreens and bomb scares all conspired to trouble him, but each impostor was met with humour and Yorkshire-bred common sense. Notorious for being an early Bird (he once made it to The Oval at 6am, so nervous was he about being late and was five-hours early to meet the Queen on one occasion), and plagued by bad weather he made the transition from cricketing figure to something close to a national institution.

A favourite among the public who took to his idiosyncrasies, Bird was equally admired and respected by the players. He diffused many a situation that a lesser umpire may have allowed to escalate, typically with common sense and good humour. Most importantly, he simply made few mistakes. "They all rated me the best: Sobers, Richards, Lillee and Botham. That means a lot I can tell you," he admitted.

Harold "Dickie" Bird was born in Barnsley in April 1933. 5'10" and a right-hand batsman, Bird played in a Barnsley side that included Geoff Boycott and the journalist Michael Parkinson, with whom he remained friends. A good enough player to have represented Yorkshire during their period of dominance (debuting in 1956 against Scotland), a regular first team place eluded him in such a strong side (his career best performance 181* against Glamorgan at Bradford in 1959 was rewarded with omission from the next game as the senior players returned from Test duty) and he moved to Leicestershire at the end of that year. He won his county cap in his first season, 1960, in which he topped 1,000 first-class runs, but later referred to the decision to leave Yorkshire as "the biggest mistake of my life".

Bird retired relatively early, aged just 32, and spent a few years coaching and playing as a club professional. He later admitted to regret that his playing career had not been more successful (first-class average: 20.71): "I just wish I'd have believed in myself as a batsman the way I do as an umpire," he told The Cricketer (November 1998) during his final match as an umpire. "I had the ability I can tell you. If you had compared me to Boycott in the nets you would have picked me as the Test player. Ray Illingworth said I played as straight as anyone he'd ever seen. Umpiring has been good to me, but it is the second-best thing to playing."

Bird officiated his first game in 1970, with his first Test coming against New Zealand at Leeds in 1973. In 1992 he stood in Zimbabwe's inaugural Test as the first ICC panel umpire. A guard of honour by the players and a standing ovation from the crowd as England took on India in 1996 marked his final Test, at his beloved Lord's. Bird, always an emotional man, was reduced to tears. In all he officiated in 66 Tests and 69 One-Day Internationals, overtaking Frank Chester's record (of 48 Tests) in Zimbabwe in 1996. His final first-class game was at Headingley, between Yorkshire and Warwickshire in 1998.

Bird was awarded the MBE in June 1986 in the Queen's Birthday Honours List ("It means more to me than my life," he commented) and became a frequent tea-time visitor at the Palace, apparently attending more than 20 times. He gained other remarkable friends, including former Prime Minister John Major, billionaire cricket fanatic John Paul Getty and the thriller writer Stephen King. "I wish I'd had a family. That's where I missed out in life," he lamented on his retirement but his oft-repeated phrase was that he was "married to the game."

Bird's real legacy will be top-quality umpiring. Calm, despite his nervous disposition; consistent, despite his erratic body movements; and unimpeachably impartial despite his obvious love for all things Yorkshire and England, Bird added to the enjoyment of the spectators without ever detracting from the cricket. Maybe a little reluctant to give lbw decisions, (he would argue "the Laws state I have to be certain"), he has expressed reservations about the marginalisation of umpires by technology in recent times.

A busy retirement, in which he revels in the new role of a media personality, has seen the ubiquitous Bird appear on quiz and chat shows, embark on a speaking tour where his routine of anecdotes provokes great amusement and improve upon each telling. He has produced several books, including My Autobiography with Keith Lodge, the biggest selling sports book of all time and the follow-up White Cap and Bails, another best-seller.

The scenes on this scabbard celebrate Julio-Claudian militrary successes in Germany and stress harmony and order. Germanicus hands the enthroned Tiberius a figure of victory. In reality, the troops had mutinied at Tiberius's accession, preferring Germanicus as princeps.

[British Museum]

Nero: the Man Behind the Myth

(May - Oct 2021)

Nero is known as one of Rome's most infamous rulers, notorious for his cruelty, debauchery and madness.

The last male descendant of the emperor Augustus, Nero succeeded to the throne in AD 54 aged just 16 and died a violent death at 30. His turbulent rule saw momentous events including the Great Fire of Rome, Boudicca's rebellion in Britain, the execution of his own mother and first wife, grand projects and extravagant excesses.

Drawing on the latest research, this major exhibition questions the traditional narrative of the ruthless tyrant and eccentric performer, revealing a different Nero, a populist leader at a time of great change in Roman society.

Through some 200 spectacular objects, from the imperial palace in Rome to the streets of Pompeii, follow the young emperor’s rise and fall and make up your own mind about Nero. Was he a young, inexperienced ruler trying his best in a divided society, or the merciless, matricidal megalomaniac history has painted him to be?

Nero was the 5th emperor of Rome and the last of Rome’s first dynasty, the Julio-Claudians, founded by Augustus (the adopted son of Julius Caesar). Nero is known as one of Rome’s most infamous rulers, notorious for his cruelty and debauchery. He ascended to power in AD 54 aged just 16 and died at 30. He ruled at a time of great social and political change, overseeing momentous events such as the Great Fire of Rome and Boudica’s rebellion in Britain. He allegedly killed his mother and two of his wives, only cared about his art and had very little interest in ruling the empire.

Most of what we know about Nero comes from the surviving works of three historians – Tacitus, Suetonius and Cassius Dio. All written decades after Nero’s death, their accounts have long shaped our understanding of this emperor’s rule. However, far from being impartial narrators presenting objective accounts of past events, these authors and their sources wrote with a very clear agenda in mind. Nero’s demise brought forward a period of chaos and civil war – one that ended only when a new dynasty seized power, the Flavians. Authors writing under the Flavians all had an interest in legitimising the new ruling family by portraying the last of the Julio-Claudians in the worst possible light, turning history into propaganda. These accounts became the ‘historical’ sources used by later historians, therefore perpetuating a fabricated image of Nero, which has survived all the way to the present.

Nero was born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus on 15 December AD 37.

He was the son of Gnaeus Domitius Ahenobarbus and Agrippina the Younger. Both Gnaeus and Agrippina were the grandchildren of Augustus, making Nero Augustus’ great, great grandson with a strong claim to power.

Nero was only two years old when his mother was exiled and three when his father died. His inheritance was taken from him and he was sent to live with his aunt. However, Nero’s fate changed again when Claudius became emperor, restoring the boy’s property and recalling his mother Agrippina from exile.

In AD 49 the emperor Claudius married Agrippina, and adopted Nero the following year. It is at this point that Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus changed his name to Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus. In Roman times it was normal to change your name when adopted, abandoning your family name in favour of your adoptive father’s. Nero was a common name among members of the Claudian family, especially in Claudius’ branch.

Nero and Agrippina offered Claudius a politically useful link back to Augustus, strengthening his position.

Claudius appeared to favour Nero over his natural son, Britannicus, marking Nero as the designated heir.

When Claudius died in AD 54, Nero became emperor just two months before turning 17.

As he was supported by both the army and the senate, his rise to power was smooth. His mother Agrippina exerted a significant influence, especially at the beginning of his rule.

The Roman historians Tacitus, Suetonius and Cassius Dio all claim that Nero, fed up with Agrippina’s interference, decided to kill her.

Given the lack of eyewitnesses, there is no way of knowing if or how this happened. However, this did not stop historians from fabricating dramatic stories of Agrippina’s murder, asserting that Nero tried (and failed) to kill her with a boat engineered to sink, before sending his men to do the job.

Agrippina allegedly told them to stab her in the womb that bore Nero, her last words clearly borrowed from stage plays.

It is entirely possible, as claimed by Nero himself, that Agrippina chose (or was more likely forced) to take her own life after her plot against her son was discovered.

Early in his rule, Nero had to contend with a rebellion in the newly conquered province of Britain.

In AD 60–61, Queen Boudica of the Iceni tribe led a revolt against the Romans, attacking and laying waste to important Roman settlements. The possible causes of the rebellion were numerous – the greed of the Romans exploiting the newly conquered territories, the recalling of loans made to local leaders, ongoing conflict in Wales and, above all, violence against the family of Prasutagus, Boudica’s husband and king of the Iceni.

Boudica and the rebels destroyed Colchester, London and St Albans before being heavily defeated by Roman troops. After the uprising, the governor of Britain Suetonius Paulinus introduced harsher laws against the Britons, until Nero replaced him with the more conciliatory governor Publius Petronius Turpilianus.

The marriage between Nero and Octavia, aged 15 and 13/14 at the time, was arranged by their parents in order to further legitimise Nero’s claim to the throne. Octavia was the daughter of the emperor Claudius from a previous marriage, so when Claudius married Agrippina and adopted her son Nero, Nero and Octavia became brother and sister. In order to arrange their marriage, Octavia had to be adopted into another family.

Their marriage was not a happy one. According to ancient writers, Nero had various affairs until his lover Poppaea Sabina convinced him to divorce his wife. Octavia was first exiled then executed in AD 62 on adultery charges. According to ancient writers, her banishment and death caused great unrest among the public, who sympathised with the dutiful Octavia.

No further motives were offered for Octavia’s death other than Nero’s passion for Poppaea, and we will probably never know what transpired at court. The fact that Octavia couldn’t produce an heir while Poppaea was pregnant with Nero’s daughter likely played an important role in deciding Octavia’s fate.

On 19 July AD 64, a fire started close to the Circus Maximus. The flames soon encompassed the entire city of Rome and the fire raged for nine days. Only four of the 14 districts of the capital were spared, while three were completely destroyed.

Rome had already been razed by flames – and would be again in its long history – but this event was so severe it came to be known as the Great Fire of Rome.

Later historians blamed Nero for the event, claiming that he set the capital ablaze in order to clear land for the construction of a vast new palace. According to Suetonius and Cassius Dio, Nero took in the view of the burning city from the imperial residence while playing the lyre and singing about the fall of Troy. This story, however, is fictional.

Tacitus, the only historian who was actually alive at the time of the Great Fire of Rome (although only 8 years old), wrote that Nero was not even in Rome when the fire started, but returned to the capital and led the relief efforts.

Tacitus, Suetonius and Cassius Dio all describe Nero as being blinded by passion for his wife Poppaea, yet they accuse him of killing her, allegedly by kicking her in an outburst of rage while she was pregnant.

Interestingly, pregnant women being kicked to death by enraged husbands is a recurring theme in ancient literature, used to explore the (self) destructive tendencies of autocrats. The Greek writer Herodotus tells the story of how the Persian king Cambyses kicked his pregnant wife in the stomach, causing her death. A similar episode is told of Periander, tyrant of Corinth. Nero is just one of many allegedly ‘mad’ tyrants for which this literary convention was used.

Poppaea probably died from complications connected with her pregnancy and not at Nero’s hands. She was given a lavish funeral and was deified.

Centred on greater Iran, the Parthian empire was a major political and cultural power and a long-standing enemy of Rome. The two powers had long been contending for control over the buffer state of Armenia and open conflict sparked again during Nero’s rule. The Parthian War started in AD 58 and, after initial victories and following set-backs, ended in AD 63 when a diplomatic solution was reached between Nero and the Parthian king Vologases I.

According to this settlement Tiridates, brother of the Parthian king, would rule over Armenia, but only after having travelled all the way to Rome to be crowned by Nero.

The journey lasted 9 months, Tiridates’ retinue included 3,000 Parthian horsemen and many Roman soldiers. The coronation ceremony took place in the summer of AD 66 and the day was celebrated with much pomp: all the people of Rome saw the new king of Armenia kneeling in front of Nero. This was the Golden Day of Nero’s rule

In AD 68, Vindex, the governor of Gaul (France), rebelled against Nero and declared his support for Galba, the governor of Spain. Vindex was defeated in battle by troops loyal to Nero, yet Galba started gaining more military support.

It was at this point that Nero lost the support of Rome’s people due to a grain shortage, caused by a rebellious commander who cut the crucial food supply from Egypt to the capital. Abandoned by the people and declared an enemy of the state by the senate, Nero tried to flee Rome and eventually committed suicide.

Following his death, Nero’s memory was condemned (a practice called damnatio memoriae) and the images of the emperor were destroyed, removed or reworked. However, Nero was still given an expensive funeral and for a long time people decorated his tomb with flowers, some even believing he was still alive.

After Nero’s death, civil war ensued. At the end of the so-called ‘Year of the Four Emperors’ (AD 69), Vespasian became emperor and started a new dynasty: the Flavians.

[Francesca Bologna, curator, for British Museum]

Taken in the British Museum

From the autumn 2016 trip to Vietnam:

If ever there were a good way to finish up a trip, this particular Sunday in October would be it. Before arriving in Hanoi, I honestly had exceptionally low expectations. A bit like Saigon, if you are to go online and try to look up a list of places to visit – basically a tourist’s stock photography checklist, as it may be – you don’t find much that’s appealing. Well…I didn’t, anyway, and as a result, I had pretty low expectations for Hanoi.

The charm and beauty of Hanoi, however, isn’t in any one particular place. It’s in the experience of the entire city. (I’d say the same for Saigon, but multiply that a few times for Hanoi.) On this day in the Old Quarter in particular, I kept finding myself thinking, “Oh, my God, I shouldn’t be this lucky as a photographer…” Today ended up being mostly about people, with a little food and historical locations mixed in.

As I mentioned in the last set of posting, today would start off a bit sad with Junebug leaving for China a day before I would. So, we were checked out of our room by 6:00 in the morning or so. The breakfast at the Art Trendy was wonderful. Buffet with a mix of made-to-order omelets mixed in. Strong work, Art Trendy, strong work…

When June left, I really had nothing to do since it was still six in the morning and I was temporarily homeless as I had to switch hotels. So…I sat around the lobby for about two hours (possibly slightly awkward for the poor girls working there, but oh, well; I had to sit somewhere).

Around 8:00, I finally dragged my old bones out of the hotel and walked the five to ten minutes down the street to the Aquarius, where I politely asked them to hold my non-camera bag until I come back around 1:00 in the afternoon to check in.

After that, I was finally off with my cameras to enjoy an early Sunday morning in the bustling Old Quarter. On the street where the hotel is situated are a number of restaurants where locals were jammed in to enjoy noodles, steamed buns, and the like. It was wonderful to be among that crowd (though someone tried to scold me ever so slightly for taking pictures of people eating).

Since this was right next to St. Joseph’s Cathedral – and it was Sunday morning – I found my way back into the church where we crashed the wedding the afternoon before and realized that I almost got locked into Sunday mass while walking around taking pictures. So…I stayed. I prayed. And my prayer was answered when I realized the side doors and even the back door were open. (Ok…I didn’t really think I was locked in a church, but it did feel like it a little bit.)

Upon exiting the church, a handful of frames under my belt, I walked along the lovely streets photographing shops and people. At Caphe, I piggybacked on someone else’s photo shoot – it looked like they were doing a promo for the place, or possibly just a personal shoot for five women, though I have a feeling it was the former. At any rate, I was quite pleased with that little set and am presenting quite a few of those here, even if they’re a little redundant.

My ultimate goal with this wandering was to find my way to the Hanoi Hilton. Now, I’m not taking about the hotel chain, of course, but rather the prison that U.S. prisoners of war sarcastically called the Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War. (This is the prison where Senator John McCain was interred while a POW, and there are one or two pictures to that effect here.)

This prison has a particularly interesting history (and morbid since…well…it’s a prison). It’s about a hundred years old and was founded by the French colonialists around the turn of the 20th century. During the first 50 years of its history, the French imprisoned Vietnamese insurgents and those who wanted independence. In the eyes of the French…renegades (hence the imprisonment). In the eyes of the Vietnamese – especially the current government – patriots and national heroes. If they were truly freedom fighters, then I would probably side with the current government on that one.

The French even had a guillotine installed here and overcrowding was a major problem. There were plenty of escape attempts, and more were successful than you may think, which is a little peculiar.

After the battle of Bien Dien Phu and the ejection of the French from the north (and before the U.S. got involved in the south), the prison changed hands and was under control of Ho Chi Minh. During the Vietnam War, it became one of the main prisons for U.S. POWs, as I alluded to above.

The propaganda claims that the Vietcong were absolutely humane and decent with U.S. prisoners, allowing them to observe their religious rites (Christmas celebrations, etc.), allowed prisoners to smoke and enjoy leisure (board games, basketball, etc.), and claimed they were well-fed.

This is certainly how it’s presented in the prison/museum currently. If you were to go online, though, and try to find a contrary report, you would find that this was all coerced and staged to make it appear as if things were on the up and up. (For anyone curious, per my Vietnamese friends, the general education in Vietnam today is how terrible the French and U.S. were for colonizing and torturing the country and keeping it from its independence.)

So, what’s the truth of what really happened? Who knows? Outside of firsthand accounts, it’s impossible to know for certain and even then, memory can be a tricky thing. I tend to like to say the truth is always somewhere between two opposing viewpoints, no matter what the topic may be.

From an impartial and purely photographic point of view, the prison, currently a museum/memorial, is an interesting place to spend an hour or two. Some of the exhibits seem a bit cheesy, but some are quite tasteful and well done. There’s also an informational video. You’ll have to see this with a bit of imagination (the prison, that is), as at least half of it has been leveled for high rise buildings. At least there’s some tangible piece of it left to visit, including the main gate (Maison Centrale).

After about two hours here at the Hanoi Hilton, I walked over towards the Opera House to get a few daytime shots but, really, to get lunch at El Gaucho. I was looking forward to a proper steak. The prices were astronomical (though justifiable based on what I ate), though I just opted for a steak salad. It was so good I contemplated going back for dinner, but had other plans.

With a happy stomach, I went back to finally check in at the Aquarius Hotel and got my workout huffing up six flights of stairs each time I went out. I relaxed here for a few hours until 4:00 when a dear friend of mine came to town to see me.

Ngan and I had an ice cream at Baskin Robbins right in front of St. Joe’s before heading over to the Temple of Literature. This is a temple dedicated to education and, bless my soul, it’s a place where university graduates come for graduation pictures.

On this particular day – a warm, sunny, late Sunday afternoon – it was packed with college students. And it was beautiful to see that many people happy, full of hopes and dreams, and dressed in either cap and gown or traditional Vietnamese clothes. In short…I had a field day shooting for an hour here.

Around 5:00, Ngan had to head back to school, and I went back to my hotel. I had one more meeting. Hoa, who traveled around Thailand & Cambodia with me in May, flew back to see me this evening. She picked me up at 6:00 on her scooter and rode me all around Hanoi by evening.

She started by taking me to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (which I consider a lot more photogenic in its setting than the Great Gangster’s Mausoleum on Tiananmen Square). This one, at least, was in a parklike setting. At evening, it’s well-lit and you can find people relaxing in the grass in front of it. During the day, you can visit and there are quite a few buildings behind the mausoleum that you can also see.

After a few minutes here, Hoa took me by West Lake – the largest lake in Hanoi, as I mentioned yesterday – and just drove me around for over an hour, it seemed. My impressions that Hanoi (even out of the Old Quarter) seemed to be a good place to live – though I’d be concerned about the air pollution – and people here seemed to be happy. Also…Vietnamese really love their coffee.

We finally returned to the Old Quarter for dinner at one of the famous restaurants she recommended and she treated me to a wonderful dinner. I can’t recall what we ate (the Vietnamese names of it, anyway), but it was nice.

After dinner, she drove me over towards the Opera House and then, finally, we stopped by Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of the Quarter and walked around the lake. It was getting close to 10:00 by this time, and I wanted to get back to the hotel to get a few hours sleep before waking up for my early flight in the morning. Hoa came to the airport with me to see me off.

If ever there were a great way to finish a great trip, this was it. I absolutely loved Vietnam – honestly, a lot more than I imagined I would, even with every single person I know who’d ever come here saying what a fantastic country this is – and would gladly come back. This seems to be one of the kinds of countries that you would never get tired of or, if you did, it would sure take a long time. With that, I’ll bid goodbye to Vietnam for now with the hopes that I’ll someday return to this land of amazing food, landscapes, and people.

As always, thanks for dropping by and viewing these pictures. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments and I’ll answer as I have time.

Greater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 140 new officers to the force at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall on the evening of Wednesday 8 January 2020.

In the presence of family and friends, the new officers took the Police Oath in front of magistrate Stephen Paine. In the oath they swore to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official commencement of their police duties.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins welcomed each new recruit to the force.

Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough, was in attendance as was Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.

Yesterday, Tuesday 22 January 2019, Greater Manchester Police welcomed 100 new recruits to the Force. The officers were officially sworn in at a formal ceremony attended by Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, senior officers and magistrate Stephen Paine.

The attestation ceremony was held at Stockport Town Hall.

The Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Walter Brett, was also on hand to welcome the new recruits.

Family and friends watched the new officers make their oath to uphold their role with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality throughout their time in post.

New recruits have to complete a two year probation period which includes classroom based learning and a year of active patrol. During their training they will have the same of level of authority as regular officers, including the power of arrest.

The new recruits are replacing those who have either retired or left the organisation and therefore helping GMP to maintain current officer numbers.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

www.discogs.com/JS-Bach-Gidon-Kremer-Academy-Of-St-Martin.... Gramophone Review 1985:

This is among the most vigorous of Bach playing, of superlative quality within its chosen style. The quality extends both to the soloist and the strings of the orchestra. It probably would have done, too, to the harpsichordist if he had been audible; but only one or two distant chords in the finale of the Double Concerto suggested, without certainty, that indeed there was one there at all. The deficiency is not wholly decisive in these particular pieces; and anyway the ear is riveted by the propulsive style and strong, rich tone of all the string-players. The propulsive rhythm survives the absence of a separate conductor, and the ritardandos at cadences are mostly managed very well: just once, perhaps, the ritardando seemed a trifle tentative. And just once, perhaps, the strings seemed actually too strong, with overpowering accompanying detached chords, in F, in the middle movement of the A minor Concerto. But where, in this concerto and elsewhere, the cadences needed decorating Kremer leaps into action most effectively, with stylish, short amplifications of Bach's outline.

The recording is also of splendid quality, matching the strong string tone ideally. Yet in spite of this marvellous sound two questions should be raised before unreserved recommendation is made. One is that the vigour itself, applied pretty impartially throughout, might better have been modified, given way to a more lyrical style in some passages, some movements even. "Twice too fast," some will say of the Double Concerto's first movement; the arithmetic will be exaggerated, but the reaction will be quite a natural one. The other question is more a psychological one; it is whether, in this Double Concerto, the performance (however good) of both solo parts by the same player is not antipathetic to the spirit of the conversation between two living, human beings envisaged by Bach. Music is a marvellous release of the human spirit, for musician and listener alike; and it may be that in an increasingly mechanical world a few rearguard actions in favour of humanity, may here and there be in place.

For those still, very reasonably, in doubt about a decision, it should perhaps be added that the E major Concerto is split between the two record sides. M . M .

The Double Concerto is here making its fourth appearance on CD (itself some kind of record) but this is the first version in which the same soloist uses overdubbing techniques to perform both parts. Gidon Kremer is thus able to match phrases and 'dialogue' passages with precision; yet we do lose a sense of interplay between two individual artists. More to the point are the fast tempos and full-toned sound throughout all three works. Our reviewer MM describes the performances above as "vigorous" and there is indeed little relaxation even in the slow movements. Overall sound, however, is of high-fidelity standards with the bright acoustic contributing to a recording of exceptional clarity.

JOHN BORWICK.

The Mobility Roadshow –

why visit?

Presenting the finest in mobility innovation for 30 years, the national Mobility Roadshow is the original hands-on mobility event, showcasing the best possible products and services for an independent lifestyle. Whether you want to test drive, have a go at sport, driving experiences, rock climbing or just find out what’s new in the mobility market – it’s all here!

Inspirational - be amazed at life-changing productsand new ideas for YOUR independent lifestyle

Informative - gain a wealth of expert help, information and advice

Interactive - test drive vehicles, wheelchairs, powerchairs, scooters, cycles; join in sport, watch demonstrations, activities for all the family

What is it?

The UK’s most comprehensive event of its kind, it is THE annual mobility and lifestyle consumer event, showcasing a huge variety of products and services to aid an independent lifestyle. The Mobility Roadshow aims to give anyone with a mobility problem - drivers, passengers, adults or children - the chance to assess what is available to help solve that problem and most importantly to try out and evaluate the options in a ‘no pressure’ environment

Whether you have a disability that affects your mobility, or you’re an older person who is finding mobility that little bit more restricted than it used to be, the Mobility Roadshow is your one-stop shop for independence and freedom. It offers, quite simply, the best possible showcase of mobility products and services anywhere in the UK.

When and where is the next show?

Telford International Centre, 27th-29th June 2013

Who organises it?

The Mobility Roadshow is organised by registered charity Mobility Choice.

How much does it cost to get in?

Admission, parking and showguide are free, as are all activities on site.

Is it just for people with disabilities?

Not at all - there are all kinds of devices that could help people of any age who may be experiencing mobility problems through something like arthritis or stiffening joints – swivel seats make getting in and out of a car much easier, while lightweight portable scooters that fit easily in the boot of a car can be a real help for shopping or leisure activities for the less mobile.

Who exhibits at the Roadshow?

Around 160 companies and organisations, including several of the major car companies, plus vehicle adaptation and conversion specialists, mobility aids manufacturers, scooter and wheelchair manufacturers, information and advice services, charities, mobility insurance specialists; sport, leisure and holiday companies; plus a range of equipment and services for an independent lifestyle.

What sort of products will I see?

Latest cars and converted vehicles fitted with adaptations; the widest range of wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVS); lightweight, sports, power and manual wheelchairs; hand controls; hoists; car seats; commercial vehicles; battery chargers; trikes and scooters; walkers; rotating car seats; specialist wheels and tyres; suspension systems; ramps; seat clamps; wheelchair restraints; independent living aids and numerous gizmos and gadgets to make life easier for anyone with a mobility problem.

Can I have a go on things?

Yes, this is the original ‘hands-on’ mobility event for consumers. There are opportunities to test drive adapted vehicles and specialist wheelchair-accessible conversions, scooters and wheelchairs and to try out products before you even think about buying, so you can compare all the available options. As well as test driving vehicles, you can try out wheelchairs and scooters on a dedicated Mobility Test Track, plus interactive Sports Arena, and our ever-popular accessible rock-climbing wall with experienced helpers to get you to the top!

You mean I actually get to test drive vehicles?

Yes – many of the major motor manufacturers and conversion specialists will have a range of adapted vehicles available to try out – make sure you bring your driving licence with you. For the first time in the Roadshow's 30-year history, test drives will take place on the public roads around the International Centre, accompanied by a professional driver at all times and dual controls fitted to each vehicle (full licence holders only). You can register to test drive in advance, either through the website or by post.

Is it just for Motability customers?

No. The Roadshow is for anyone who has a mobility problem, whether you have a vehicle through the Motability scheme or you own one privately.

Can I bring the kids?

Yes, it`s a fun day out for all the family. There’s a variety of entertainment such as jugglers, clowns, magicians, face painters or balloon sculptors – plenty to see and do for everyone.

What about sport?

The Roadshow’s interactive Sports Arena offers you a chance to really get involved in a range of sports such as basketball, rugby, sledge hockey, and find out about what’s available in your area.

Can I hire a wheelchair or scooter?

Yes. Wheelchairs and scooters can be pre-booked (subject to availability), and some will be available on the day.

Will I really get impartial advice?

Yes. The Roadshow is all about choice and opportunity. A large number of charitable organisations and information services will be offering impartial advice on a range of mobility issues.

Did you know?

* There are over 10 million disabled people in the UK, that’s over 15% of the population.

* There are 2.3 million blue badge holders in the UK, indicating that they have a significant mobility problem.

* Mobility vehicles represent around 20% of the UK car market.

* Over 5.5 million disabled people are of working age, which represents 16% of the working population. However only 50% of disabled people of working age are in employment compared to 87% of non-disabled people of working age.

*Around 40% of the UK population is over 45 - the age at which the incidence of disability begins to increase significantly.

* The estimated annual purchasing power of people with disabilities is £40-£50 billion

* Over half the population over 75 has some kind of disability – 70% have difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

* 85% of disabled people in the UK were not born disabled, but became so in later life through accident or illness.

* 66% of disabled people are older people. In the next 50 years the number of over 60s will double and the number of over 80s will treble.

www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk/

From the autumn 2016 trip to Vietnam:

If ever there were a good way to finish up a trip, this particular Sunday in October would be it. Before arriving in Hanoi, I honestly had exceptionally low expectations. A bit like Saigon, if you are to go online and try to look up a list of places to visit – basically a tourist’s stock photography checklist, as it may be – you don’t find much that’s appealing. Well…I didn’t, anyway, and as a result, I had pretty low expectations for Hanoi.

The charm and beauty of Hanoi, however, isn’t in any one particular place. It’s in the experience of the entire city. (I’d say the same for Saigon, but multiply that a few times for Hanoi.) On this day in the Old Quarter in particular, I kept finding myself thinking, “Oh, my God, I shouldn’t be this lucky as a photographer…” Today ended up being mostly about people, with a little food and historical locations mixed in.

As I mentioned in the last set of posting, today would start off a bit sad with Junebug leaving for China a day before I would. So, we were checked out of our room by 6:00 in the morning or so. The breakfast at the Art Trendy was wonderful. Buffet with a mix of made-to-order omelets mixed in. Strong work, Art Trendy, strong work…

When June left, I really had nothing to do since it was still six in the morning and I was temporarily homeless as I had to switch hotels. So…I sat around the lobby for about two hours (possibly slightly awkward for the poor girls working there, but oh, well; I had to sit somewhere).

Around 8:00, I finally dragged my old bones out of the hotel and walked the five to ten minutes down the street to the Aquarius, where I politely asked them to hold my non-camera bag until I come back around 1:00 in the afternoon to check in.

After that, I was finally off with my cameras to enjoy an early Sunday morning in the bustling Old Quarter. On the street where the hotel is situated are a number of restaurants where locals were jammed in to enjoy noodles, steamed buns, and the like. It was wonderful to be among that crowd (though someone tried to scold me ever so slightly for taking pictures of people eating).

Since this was right next to St. Joseph’s Cathedral – and it was Sunday morning – I found my way back into the church where we crashed the wedding the afternoon before and realized that I almost got locked into Sunday mass while walking around taking pictures. So…I stayed. I prayed. And my prayer was answered when I realized the side doors and even the back door were open. (Ok…I didn’t really think I was locked in a church, but it did feel like it a little bit.)

Upon exiting the church, a handful of frames under my belt, I walked along the lovely streets photographing shops and people. At Caphe, I piggybacked on someone else’s photo shoot – it looked like they were doing a promo for the place, or possibly just a personal shoot for five women, though I have a feeling it was the former. At any rate, I was quite pleased with that little set and am presenting quite a few of those here, even if they’re a little redundant.

My ultimate goal with this wandering was to find my way to the Hanoi Hilton. Now, I’m not taking about the hotel chain, of course, but rather the prison that U.S. prisoners of war sarcastically called the Hanoi Hilton during the Vietnam War. (This is the prison where Senator John McCain was interred while a POW, and there are one or two pictures to that effect here.)

This prison has a particularly interesting history (and morbid since…well…it’s a prison). It’s about a hundred years old and was founded by the French colonialists around the turn of the 20th century. During the first 50 years of its history, the French imprisoned Vietnamese insurgents and those who wanted independence. In the eyes of the French…renegades (hence the imprisonment). In the eyes of the Vietnamese – especially the current government – patriots and national heroes. If they were truly freedom fighters, then I would probably side with the current government on that one.

The French even had a guillotine installed here and overcrowding was a major problem. There were plenty of escape attempts, and more were successful than you may think, which is a little peculiar.

After the battle of Bien Dien Phu and the ejection of the French from the north (and before the U.S. got involved in the south), the prison changed hands and was under control of Ho Chi Minh. During the Vietnam War, it became one of the main prisons for U.S. POWs, as I alluded to above.

The propaganda claims that the Vietcong were absolutely humane and decent with U.S. prisoners, allowing them to observe their religious rites (Christmas celebrations, etc.), allowed prisoners to smoke and enjoy leisure (board games, basketball, etc.), and claimed they were well-fed.

This is certainly how it’s presented in the prison/museum currently. If you were to go online, though, and try to find a contrary report, you would find that this was all coerced and staged to make it appear as if things were on the up and up. (For anyone curious, per my Vietnamese friends, the general education in Vietnam today is how terrible the French and U.S. were for colonizing and torturing the country and keeping it from its independence.)

So, what’s the truth of what really happened? Who knows? Outside of firsthand accounts, it’s impossible to know for certain and even then, memory can be a tricky thing. I tend to like to say the truth is always somewhere between two opposing viewpoints, no matter what the topic may be.

From an impartial and purely photographic point of view, the prison, currently a museum/memorial, is an interesting place to spend an hour or two. Some of the exhibits seem a bit cheesy, but some are quite tasteful and well done. There’s also an informational video. You’ll have to see this with a bit of imagination (the prison, that is), as at least half of it has been leveled for high rise buildings. At least there’s some tangible piece of it left to visit, including the main gate (Maison Centrale).

After about two hours here at the Hanoi Hilton, I walked over towards the Opera House to get a few daytime shots but, really, to get lunch at El Gaucho. I was looking forward to a proper steak. The prices were astronomical (though justifiable based on what I ate), though I just opted for a steak salad. It was so good I contemplated going back for dinner, but had other plans.

With a happy stomach, I went back to finally check in at the Aquarius Hotel and got my workout huffing up six flights of stairs each time I went out. I relaxed here for a few hours until 4:00 when a dear friend of mine came to town to see me.

Ngan and I had an ice cream at Baskin Robbins right in front of St. Joe’s before heading over to the Temple of Literature. This is a temple dedicated to education and, bless my soul, it’s a place where university graduates come for graduation pictures.

On this particular day – a warm, sunny, late Sunday afternoon – it was packed with college students. And it was beautiful to see that many people happy, full of hopes and dreams, and dressed in either cap and gown or traditional Vietnamese clothes. In short…I had a field day shooting for an hour here.

Around 5:00, Ngan had to head back to school, and I went back to my hotel. I had one more meeting. Hoa, who traveled around Thailand & Cambodia with me in May, flew back to see me this evening. She picked me up at 6:00 on her scooter and rode me all around Hanoi by evening.

She started by taking me to Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum (which I consider a lot more photogenic in its setting than the Great Gangster’s Mausoleum on Tiananmen Square). This one, at least, was in a parklike setting. At evening, it’s well-lit and you can find people relaxing in the grass in front of it. During the day, you can visit and there are quite a few buildings behind the mausoleum that you can also see.

After a few minutes here, Hoa took me by West Lake – the largest lake in Hanoi, as I mentioned yesterday – and just drove me around for over an hour, it seemed. My impressions that Hanoi (even out of the Old Quarter) seemed to be a good place to live – though I’d be concerned about the air pollution – and people here seemed to be happy. Also…Vietnamese really love their coffee.

We finally returned to the Old Quarter for dinner at one of the famous restaurants she recommended and she treated me to a wonderful dinner. I can’t recall what we ate (the Vietnamese names of it, anyway), but it was nice.

After dinner, she drove me over towards the Opera House and then, finally, we stopped by Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of the Quarter and walked around the lake. It was getting close to 10:00 by this time, and I wanted to get back to the hotel to get a few hours sleep before waking up for my early flight in the morning. Hoa came to the airport with me to see me off.

If ever there were a great way to finish a great trip, this was it. I absolutely loved Vietnam – honestly, a lot more than I imagined I would, even with every single person I know who’d ever come here saying what a fantastic country this is – and would gladly come back. This seems to be one of the kinds of countries that you would never get tired of or, if you did, it would sure take a long time. With that, I’ll bid goodbye to Vietnam for now with the hopes that I’ll someday return to this land of amazing food, landscapes, and people.

As always, thanks for dropping by and viewing these pictures. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments and I’ll answer as I have time.

402 Commercial Avenue. This ornate brick building, the first of its kind in Skagit County, was constructed by Lewis & Dryden Engineers of Portland, Oregon. It was originally chartered as the Bank of Anacortes. The Bank closed during the depression of 1893. Two vaults and other bank-related features have survived alterations.

The Cuban Five are Gerardo Hernández, Antonio Guerrero, Ramón Labañino, Fernando Gonzáles, and René Gonzáles, five Cuban nationals who were arrested and convicted of espionage, conspiracy to commit murder, and other illegal activities committed in the United States.

All five are currently serving long prison terms in the United States. The impartiality of the verdicts is widely questioned. Cuba calls the five men heroes and is fighting an international campaign for their release.

Cuba is full of murals, billboards and small monuments dedicated to the five men. Most of these include the slogan Volverán, "They will come back".

Greater Manchester Police has welcomed 89 new police officers to the ranks.

The new recruits were sworn in at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall last night, Tuesday 11 June 2019.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling, Deputy Major of Greater Manchester Bev Hughes and Magistrate Joan Cooper were in attendance at the event.

The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough and her consort were guests of honour.

Family and friends of the new officers watched on proudly as each of took an oath to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Greater Manchester Police has welcomed 89 new police officers to the ranks.

The new recruits were sworn in at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall last night, Tuesday 11 June 2019.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, Deputy Chief Constable Ian Pilling, Deputy Major of Greater Manchester Bev Hughes and Magistrate Joan Cooper were in attendance at the event.

The Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough and her consort were guests of honour.

Family and friends of the new officers watched on proudly as each of took an oath to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Greater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 140 new officers to the force at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall on the evening of Wednesday 8 January 2020.

In the presence of family and friends, the new officers took the Police Oath in front of magistrate Stephen Paine. In the oath they swore to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official commencement of their police duties.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins welcomed each new recruit to the force.

Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough, was in attendance as was Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.

Greater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 152 new officers in the force's largest attestation ceremony to date on the evening of Tuesday 22nd October 2019, at Stockport Town Hall.

In front of family and friends, all officers partook in the Police Oath which is their promise to the Queen in front of a magistrate to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official start of the officers commencing their duties, and is a milestone to be celebrated.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was in attendance to welcome each and every new recruit to the force.

Also in attendance were Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor, Baroness Beverley Hughes and the Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Laura Booth.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.

Greater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 152 new officers in the force's largest attestation ceremony to date on the evening of Tuesday 22nd October 2019, at Stockport Town Hall.

In front of family and friends, all officers partook in the Police Oath which is their promise to the Queen in front of a magistrate to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official start of the officers commencing their duties, and is a milestone to be celebrated.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was in attendance to welcome each and every new recruit to the force.

Also in attendance were Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor, Baroness Beverley Hughes and the Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Laura Booth.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.

Greater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 152 new officers in the force's largest attestation ceremony to date on the evening of Tuesday 22nd October 2019, at Stockport Town Hall.

In front of family and friends, all officers partook in the Police Oath which is their promise to the Queen in front of a magistrate to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official start of the officers commencing their duties, and is a milestone to be celebrated.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins was in attendance to welcome each and every new recruit to the force.

Also in attendance were Greater Manchester’s Deputy Mayor, Baroness Beverley Hughes and the Mayor of Stockport, Councillor Laura Booth.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

[James 3:13-18 NIV]

5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

1. Like it or not, we are ALL sinners: As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” (Romans 3:10-12 NLT)

2. The punishment for sin is death: When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT)

3. Jesus is our only hope: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT)

4. SALVATION is by GRACE through FAITH in JESUS: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)

5. Accept Jesus and receive eternal life: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NLT) But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12 NLT) And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12 NLT)

Read the Bible for yourself. Allow the Lord to speak to you through his Word. YOUR ETERNITY IS AT STAKE!

An Act for the Recognition and Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Statutes of Canada 1960, 8-9 Elizabeth 11, Chapter 4-4, assented to 10th August 1960.

The Parliament of Canada, affirming that the Canadian Nation is founded upon principles that acknowledge the supremacy of God, the dignity and worth of the human person and position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions.

Affirming also that men and institutions remain free only when freedom is founded upon respect for moral and spiritual values and the rule of Law; And being desirous of enshrining these principles and the human rights and fundamental freedoms derived from them in a Bill of Rughts which shall reflect the respect of Parliament for its constitutional authority and which shall ensure the protection of these rights and freedoms in Canada:

THEREFORE Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

PART I Bill of Rights

1. It is hereby recognized and declared that in Canada there have existed and shall continue to exist without discriminination by reason of race, national origin, colour, religion or sex, the following human rights and fundamental freedoms, namely,

(a) the right of the individual to life, Liberty, security of the person and enjoyment of property, and the right not to be deprived thereof except by due process of law;

(b) the right of the individual to equality before the law and the protection of the law;

(c) freedom of religion;

(d) freedom of speech;

(e) freedom of assembly and association; and

(f) freedom of the press

2. Every Law of Canada shall, unless it is expressly declared by an Act of Parliament of Canada that it shall operate notwithstanding the Canadian Bill of Rights, be so construed and applied as not to abrogate, abridge or infringe or to authorize the abrogation, abridgment or infringement of any of the rights or freedoms therein recognized and declared, -in particular, no law of Canada shall be construed or applied so as to

(a) authorize or effect the arbitrary detention, imprisonment or exile of any person;

(b) impose or authorize the imposition of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment;

(c) deprive a person who has been arrested or detained

(g) deprive a person of the right to the assistance of an interpreter in any proceedings in which he is involved or in which he is a party or a witness before a court commission, board or other tribunal, if he does not understand or speak the Language in which such proceedings are conducted.

3. The Minister of Justice shall, in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by the Governor in Council, examine every proposed regulation submitted in draft form to the Clerk of the Privy Council pursuant to the Regulations Act and every Bill introduced in or presented to the House of Commons, in order to ascertain whether any of the provisions thereof are inconsistent with the purposes and provisions of this Part and he shall report any such inconsistency to the House of Commons at the first convenient opportunity.

4. The provisons of this Part shall be known as the Canadian Bill of Rights.

"I am a Canadian, a free Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, free to choose those who shall govern my country.

This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind."

Signed by The Right Honourable John G. Diefenbaker Prime Minister of Canada

House of Commons Debates, July 1, 1960

The Mobility Roadshow –

why visit?

Presenting the finest in mobility innovation for 30 years, the national Mobility Roadshow is the original hands-on mobility event, showcasing the best possible products and services for an independent lifestyle. Whether you want to test drive, have a go at sport, driving experiences, rock climbing or just find out what’s new in the mobility market – it’s all here!

Inspirational - be amazed at life-changing productsand new ideas for YOUR independent lifestyle

Informative - gain a wealth of expert help, information and advice

Interactive - test drive vehicles, wheelchairs, powerchairs, scooters, cycles; join in sport, watch demonstrations, activities for all the family

What is it?

The UK’s most comprehensive event of its kind, it is THE annual mobility and lifestyle consumer event, showcasing a huge variety of products and services to aid an independent lifestyle. The Mobility Roadshow aims to give anyone with a mobility problem - drivers, passengers, adults or children - the chance to assess what is available to help solve that problem and most importantly to try out and evaluate the options in a ‘no pressure’ environment

Whether you have a disability that affects your mobility, or you’re an older person who is finding mobility that little bit more restricted than it used to be, the Mobility Roadshow is your one-stop shop for independence and freedom. It offers, quite simply, the best possible showcase of mobility products and services anywhere in the UK.

When and where is the next show?

Telford International Centre, 27th-29th June 2013

Who organises it?

The Mobility Roadshow is organised by registered charity Mobility Choice.

How much does it cost to get in?

Admission, parking and showguide are free, as are all activities on site.

Is it just for people with disabilities?

Not at all - there are all kinds of devices that could help people of any age who may be experiencing mobility problems through something like arthritis or stiffening joints – swivel seats make getting in and out of a car much easier, while lightweight portable scooters that fit easily in the boot of a car can be a real help for shopping or leisure activities for the less mobile.

Who exhibits at the Roadshow?

Around 160 companies and organisations, including several of the major car companies, plus vehicle adaptation and conversion specialists, mobility aids manufacturers, scooter and wheelchair manufacturers, information and advice services, charities, mobility insurance specialists; sport, leisure and holiday companies; plus a range of equipment and services for an independent lifestyle.

What sort of products will I see?

Latest cars and converted vehicles fitted with adaptations; the widest range of wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVS); lightweight, sports, power and manual wheelchairs; hand controls; hoists; car seats; commercial vehicles; battery chargers; trikes and scooters; walkers; rotating car seats; specialist wheels and tyres; suspension systems; ramps; seat clamps; wheelchair restraints; independent living aids and numerous gizmos and gadgets to make life easier for anyone with a mobility problem.

Can I have a go on things?

Yes, this is the original ‘hands-on’ mobility event for consumers. There are opportunities to test drive adapted vehicles and specialist wheelchair-accessible conversions, scooters and wheelchairs and to try out products before you even think about buying, so you can compare all the available options. As well as test driving vehicles, you can try out wheelchairs and scooters on a dedicated Mobility Test Track, plus interactive Sports Arena, and our ever-popular accessible rock-climbing wall with experienced helpers to get you to the top!

You mean I actually get to test drive vehicles?

Yes – many of the major motor manufacturers and conversion specialists will have a range of adapted vehicles available to try out – make sure you bring your driving licence with you. For the first time in the Roadshow's 30-year history, test drives will take place on the public roads around the International Centre, accompanied by a professional driver at all times and dual controls fitted to each vehicle (full licence holders only). You can register to test drive in advance, either through the website or by post.

Is it just for Motability customers?

No. The Roadshow is for anyone who has a mobility problem, whether you have a vehicle through the Motability scheme or you own one privately.

Can I bring the kids?

Yes, it`s a fun day out for all the family. There’s a variety of entertainment such as jugglers, clowns, magicians, face painters or balloon sculptors – plenty to see and do for everyone.

What about sport?

The Roadshow’s interactive Sports Arena offers you a chance to really get involved in a range of sports such as basketball, rugby, sledge hockey, and find out about what’s available in your area.

Can I hire a wheelchair or scooter?

Yes. Wheelchairs and scooters can be pre-booked (subject to availability), and some will be available on the day.

Will I really get impartial advice?

Yes. The Roadshow is all about choice and opportunity. A large number of charitable organisations and information services will be offering impartial advice on a range of mobility issues.

Did you know?

* There are over 10 million disabled people in the UK, that’s over 15% of the population.

* There are 2.3 million blue badge holders in the UK, indicating that they have a significant mobility problem.

* Mobility vehicles represent around 20% of the UK car market.

* Over 5.5 million disabled people are of working age, which represents 16% of the working population. However only 50% of disabled people of working age are in employment compared to 87% of non-disabled people of working age.

*Around 40% of the UK population is over 45 - the age at which the incidence of disability begins to increase significantly.

* The estimated annual purchasing power of people with disabilities is £40-£50 billion

* Over half the population over 75 has some kind of disability – 70% have difficulty walking or climbing stairs.

* 85% of disabled people in the UK were not born disabled, but became so in later life through accident or illness.

* 66% of disabled people are older people. In the next 50 years the number of over 60s will double and the number of over 80s will treble.

www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk/

KABUL, 25 July 2016 - A UN report on Afghanistan published Monday shows a record number of civilian casualties since counting began in 2009, with 5,166 civilians recorded killed or maimed in just the first six months of this year, of whom almost one-third were children. The total civilian casualty figure recorded by the UN between 1 January 2009 and 30 June 2016 has risen to 63,934, including 22,941 deaths and 40,993 injured.

Between January and June this year, the Human Rights team of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) documented 1,601 civilian deaths and 3,565 injured civilians. This represents an increase of four percent in the total number of casualties compared to the first six months of 2015 – and is the highest half-year total since 2009.

This year’s casualties include 1,509 children (388 dead and 1,121 injured) – a figure the UN Human Rights Chief described as “alarming and shameful,” particularly as it represents the highest numbers of children killed or wounded in a six-month period since counting began in 2009.

There were also 507 women casualties (130 killed and 377 injured). The figures are conservative – almost certainly underestimates – given the strict methodology employed in their documentation and in determining the civilian status of those affected.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA Tadamichi Yamamoto stressed that the report must serve as a call to action by parties to the conflict “to do all they can to spare civilians from the horrors of war.”

“Every single casualty documented in this report – people killed while praying, working, studying, fetching water, recovering in hospitals – every civilian casualty represents a failure of commitment and should be a call to action for parties to the conflict to take meaningful, concrete steps to reduce civilians’ suffering and increase protection,” Yamamoto said. “Platitudes not backed by meaningful action ring hollow over time. History and the collective memory of the Afghan people will judge leaders of all parties to this conflict by their actual conduct.”

“The testimony of victims and their families brings into agonizing focus the tragedy of each one of the 63,934 people killed or maimed by this protracted conflict since 2009,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein.

“The family that lost a breadwinner, forcing the children to leave school and struggle to make ends meet; the driver who lost his limbs, depriving him of his livelihood; the man who went to the bazaar to shop for his children only to return home to find them dead; the broken back and leg that has never been treated because the family cannot afford the cost of treatment; the parents who collected their son’s remains in a plastic bag… In just the past six months, there have been at least 5,166 such stories – of which one-third involve the killing or maiming of children, which is particularly alarming and shameful.”

“The violations laid bare in this report set in motion a cascade of potential human rights abuses that stretch from Afghanistan to the Mediterranean and beyond, as so many Afghans are driven to seek refuge abroad, taking enormous risks,” Zeid added. “Parties to the conflict must cease the deliberate targeting of civilians and the use of heavy weaponry in civilian-populated areas. There must be an end to the prevailing impunity enjoyed by those responsible for civilian casualties – no matter who they are.”

While anti-Government elements remain responsible for the majority – 60 percent – of civilian casualties, there was an increase in the number of civilians killed and injured by pro-Government forces between January and June this year. During this period, UNAMA documented 1,180 civilian casualties attributable to pro-Government forces, which is 23 percent of the total so far this year, but a 47 percent increase compared to the same period last year, primarily as a result of ground engagements.

Ground engagements continue to cause the highest number of civilian casualties, followed by complex and suicide attacks and improved explosive devices (IEDs). Explosive remnants of war disproportionately impacted children who comprised 85 per cent of the casualties caused by such devices. The report contains several accounts of children killed or maimed while playing with such objects. In one case on 13 April, documented in the report, “the children had tossed the mortar round onto a paved road after unsuccessfully trying to exchange it for ice cream.”

During the period covered by the report, 157,987 Afghans were newly displaced – a 10 percent increase over the same period last year. This brings the estimated total number of conflict-induced internally displaced Afghans to 1.2 million.

The report also documents other serious human rights violations and abuses, including the deliberate targeting of women in the public sphere, use of children in armed conflict, sexual violence against boys and girls, attacks on educational and health facilities, abductions and summary executions. Human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and judges have also been targeted, in some cases being labeled by the Taliban as “military targets”. In one suicide attack against the media, on 20 January, seven Tolo TV staff members were among eight civilians killed and 30 injured.

The report also notes the results of an investigation into the bombing of a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hospital in October last year, stressing that there remains a need for “a fully independent, impartial, transparent and effective investigation” with a view to assessing possible criminal liability.

The report highlights the need for accountability and justice for all human rights violations and abuses, underlining that victims and family members must not be required to submit written complaints for the authorities to initiate investigations, particularly in view of the low literacy rates in the country.

Yamamoto and Zeid emphasized that the casualties only provide part of the picture of suffering, failing to capture the full extent of the harm and limitations imposed on the Afghan people by the armed conflict.

“The protracted conflict has meant that access to education and healthcare, to livelihood and shelter, to the freedom of movement and to a whole host of civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights has been severely curtailed for millions of Afghans for far too long,” Yamamoto said.

Photo by UNAMA / Fardin Waezi.

I have visited Minster perhaps more than any other village in Kent. This is because the station is an excellent spot from which to snap steam tours as they manoeuvre to take the avoiding chord to Deal and Dover. And each time I go I try to get into St Mary the Virgin and I find the door locked fast.

The week before whilst visiting Monkton, I met one of the wardens who assured me that Minster would be open every Saturday morning for bellringing practice.

Saturday morning came round and so I headed to Minster with my friend Will to snap it, if it was open. Although it appeared to be locked, the door was just stiff and soon gave way to the wonders inside.

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Minster Abbey on the Isle of Thanet was founded in AD 669 by Domneva, niece of King Erconbert of Kent. The enormous parish church, built some distance to the south-west of the abbey, dates from two distinct periods. The nave is Norman, a magnificent piece of twelfth-century arcading with tall cylindrical pillars. The chancel and transepts are thirteenth century, with a three-light east window, each one double shafted inside. This end of the church has a simple stone vaulted ceiling which adds greatly to the grandeur. The glass is by Thomas Willement and dates from 1861. Ewan Christian restored the church in 1863 and added vaulted ceilings to the transepts. They had been intended by the medieval designers, but were never built. There is a set of eighteen fifteenth-century stalls with misericords and an excellent sixteenth-century font and cover.

kentchurches.info/church.asp?p=Minster+in+Thanet

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he history of Minster church is entwined with that of Minster Abbey. The abbey was founded in 670AD, when Ermenburga of Mercia accepted a gift of land from Egbert of Kent as weregild for the murder of her younger brothers at the king's court, so that she could found a nunnery on the Isle of Thanet. According to legend, the boundary of the land granted to Ermenburga was determined by the course her pet deer took when released to wander on its own. With the addition of later grants of land the estates of Minster Abbey encompassed about half of Thanet. The abbey was ransacked by the Danes, and abandoned for a time before it was refounded by the monks of Canterbury, who rebuilt the Saxon timber buildings in stone. Throughout this early part of the abbey's history the monastic church served both the nuns and the townsfolk as a parish church. For a more detailed history of Minster Abbey see our article on the abbey.

There is some confusion over what part of the church is the oldest; the nave dates to 1150, and the chancel may be slightly earlier. The tower is said to be Saxon; it certainly has old stonework and a very odd turret stair, but the material is Caen stone which only truly became popular after the Norman Conquest. So it may not be as old as it appears at first glance. The turret may have simply been a shipping lookout, for in the Middle Ages Minster had a busy port and the Wentsum Channel lapped at the base of the churchyard wall. The tower and the nave walls also contain Roman bricks.

But that's nitpicking; the church is very obviously of ancient origin and even more obviously an impressive example of medieval architecture, with features covering every century since the Norman invasion - and probably before.

We've already mentioned the 12th century nave, which has remained almost unaltered since it was built. The north aisle pillars have capitals decorated with foliage carvings, while in the aisle is a wall monument to Thomas Paramore (d. ). At the north end of the aisle is the Thorne Chapel, with the 13th century tomb of Aedile de Thorne. Look up at the lancet windows and you will see a stained glass depiction of a stag, the symbol of Thanet after the story of Ermenburga's deer.

The chancel is a true highlight; one of the finest of any parish churches in Kent. It is primarily in Early English style, with a much later Victorian east window by Thomas Willement, the “Father of Victorian Stained Glass”.

But the real highlight in the chancel are the wonderful medieval misericords that decorate the choir stalls. The early 15th century stalls feature no fewer than 18 carved misericords. These 'mercy seats' were used to provide a comfortable place for monks to rest during long services. There are 18 misericords here, probably carved in 1410, and they cover an array of subjects including a cook with a ladle, an angel playing a stringed instrument, a serpent eating its own tail, a king, dragons, lions, and other strange beasts. Perhaps the strangest, a certainly the one that tells us most about medieval society, is a depiction of a 'scold's bridle'; a woman with a bit in her mouth, intended to stop her from speaking. Together these make up one of the finest collection of misericords in the south east of England.

There are several interesting bits and bobs in the south aisle, including a cover of a wooden chained Bible in a glass display case. At the west end is a 12th century Norman font near an ancient iron-bound muniment chest, unusually made of fir with a lid of elm.

Spare a glance for the list of vicars by the door. I seldom pay these long lists much attention, but in this case there are several interesting characters among the incumbents at Minster. One was Seth Travis (1547), the first appointment made by the Archbishop of Canterbury after the Dissolution of the Monastery. Richard Clerk (1597) was one of those learned scholars named by James I to hammer out the details of the King James Bible. Then there is Meric Casaubon (1634) who was deposed by Parliament in 1644 for his Royalist sympathies. In 1652 Cromwell asked him to write a history of the war, setting down impartially 'nothing but matters of fact'. He declined. When Charles II came to the throne at the Restoration, Casaubon was reinstated as vicar of Minster.

While Casaubon was suspended during the war, however, Minster was saddled with Richard Culmer, aka 'Blue Dick'. Culmer was a virulent iconoclast, and a bitter enemy of Episcopy. He was best known for destroying monuments and breaking up stained glass at Canterbury Cathedral. So unpopular was his appointment among the townsfolk that he had trouble collecting church tithes. His name is conspicuous by its absence from the list of vicars. And speaking of such lists, Henry Wharton (1688) was the first to popularise the making of such lists of incumbents, an act he thought might impart a sense of continuity to Church of England churches. A later vicar, John Lewis (1708) wrote over a thousand sermons in his time at Minster. On his death he ordered them destroyed, fearing that vicars who followed him might find the temptation of plagiarising his works too great.

www.britainexpress.com/counties/kent/churches/minster.htm

Description: Front cover article by Julia Ward Howe and Lyman Abbott titled "Woman and the Suffrage" printed in The Outlook, April 3, 1909. Page 2 of 4.

Full Text: WOMAN AND THE SUFFRAGE

THE CASE FOR WOMAN SUFFRAGE

BY JULIA WARD HOWE

WHEN the stripling David, having rashly undertaken to encounter the Philistine giant, found himself obliged to choose a weapon for the unequal fight, he dismissed the costly armament offered him by the king, and went back to the simple stone and sling with which he was familiar. Even in like manner will I, pledged just now to make a plain statement of the claims of woman to suffrage, trust myself to state the case as it appeared to me when, after a delay of some years, I finally gave it my adhesion.

Having a quick and rather preponderating sense of the ridiculous, I had easily apprehended the humorous associations which would at first attach themselves to any change in the political status of women. It had once appeared to me answer enough to the new demand to ask the mothers what they proposed to do with their babies, with their husbands, that they should find time for the exercise of these very superfluous functions.

While I still so spake and so thought, behold, a race of men became enfranchised by the appeal to arms. The conquest of their rights demanded the power to defend those rights, and this power the logic of history had placed in the ballot, whose object it is to secure to every person of sane and sound mind the availing expression of his political faith and individual will.

I had by this time cast in my lot with those to whom the right of the negro to every human function and privilege appeared a point to be maintained at all hazards. It had been determined that the slave should become a free man, and, further than this, that, in order to maintain his freedom, he must perform the offices of a free citizen.

Two new thoughts now came to me in the shape of Questions: Why was the vote so vital a condition of the freedom of an American citizen? And, if it was held to be so vital, why should every mall possess it, and no woman? I did and do ., believe in equal civic rights for all human beings, without regard to race, subject only to such tests as may be applied impartially to all alike. But there seemed a special incongruity in putting this great mass of ignorant men into a position of political superiority to all women. The newly enfranchised men were generally illiterate and of rather low morality. Should they, simply on account of sex, be invested with a power and dignity withheld from women, who at that time were unquestionably better fitted to intervene in matters of government than men could be who for many generations past had been bought and sold like cattle, men who would have the whole gamut of civilization to learn by heart before they could have any availing knowledge of what a vote should really mean? Here were ignorance and low life commissioned to lord it over the august company of the mothers. Here were the natural guardians of childhood debarred from the highest office in its defense. I felt that this could not be right j and when the foremost friends of the negro showed themselves as the foremost champions of the political I enfranchisement of women, I had no longer any hesitation in saying, This must be the keystone of the arch, whose absence leaves so sad and strange a gap in the construction of our political morality.

Since then the question of suffrage for women has passed out of the academic stage, and has become a matter of practical observation and experience in an ever growing number of States and countries. Experience has shattered, like a house of cards all the old predictions that it would destroy the home, subvert the foundations of society, and have a ruinous influence both on womanly delicacy and on pubic affairs. During many years the opponents of woman suffrage have been diligently gathering all the adverse testimony that they could find. So far as appears by their published literature, they have not found, in all our enfranchised States put together, a dozen respectable men, residents of those States, who assert over their own names and addresses that it has had any ill effects. A few say that it has done no good, and call it a failure on that ground. But the mass of testimony on the other side is overwhelming.

The fundamental argument for woman suffrage, of course, is its justice; and this would be enough were there no other. But a powerful argument can also be made for it from the standpoint of expediency. It has now been proved to demonstration, not only that woman suffrage has no bad results, but that it has certain definite good results.

1. It gives women a position of increased dignity and influence. On this point I will quote from five people whose word has weight in our own land and abroad.

Miss Margaret Long, daughter of the ex-Secretary of the Navy, who has resided for years in 'Denver, has written: "It seems impossible to me that anyone can live in Colorado long enough to get into touch with the life here, and not realize that women count for more in all the affairs of this State than they do where they have not the power that the suffrage gives. More attention is paid to their wishes, and much greater weight given to their opinions and judgment."

Mrs. K. A. Sheppard, President of the New Zealand Council of Women, says: “Since women have become electors, their views have become important and command respect. Men listen to and are influenced by the opinions of women to a far greater degree than was the case formerly. There is no longer heard the contemptuous 'What do women know of such matters?' And so out of the greater civil liberty enjoyed by women has come a perceptible rise in the moral and humanitarian tone of the community. A young New Zealander in his teens no longer regards his mother as belonging to a sex that must be kept within a prescribed sphere. That the lads and young men of a democracy should have their whole conception of the rights of humanity broadened and measured by truer standards is in itself an incalculable benefit."

Mrs. A. Watson Lister, Secretary of the Woman's National Council of Australia, says: "One striking result of equal suffrage is that members of Parliament now consult us as to their bills, when these bear upon the interests of women. The author of the new divorce bill asked all the women's organizations to come together and hear him read it, and make criticisms and suggestions. I do not remember any such thing happening before, in all my years in Australia. ‘When a naturalization bill was pending, one clause of which deprived Australian women of citizenship if they married aliens, a few women went privately to the Prime Minister and protested, and that clause was altered immediately. After we had worked for years with members of Parliament for various reforms, without avail, because we had no votes, you cannot imagine the difference it makes."

Ex-Premier Alfred Deakin, of the Commonwealth of Australia, says: "There is now a closer attention paid in Parliament to matters especially affecting the [feminine] sex or interesting them."

2. It leads to improvements in the laws. No one can speak more fitly of this than Judge Lindsey, of the Denver Juvenile Court. He writes: "We have in Colorado the most advanced laws of any State in the Union for the care and protection of the home and the children, the very foundation of the Republic. We owe this more to woman suffrage than to any one cause. It does not take any mother from her home duties to spend ten minutes in going to the polls, casting her vote, and returning to the bosom of her home j but during those ten minutes she wields a power which is doing more to protect that home, and all other homes, than any other power or influence in Colorado."

Mrs. Helen L. Grenfell, of Denver, served three terms as State Superintendent of Public Instruction for Colorado, and is highly esteemed by educators throughout the State. She introduced in Colorado the system of leasing instead of selling the lands set apart by the Government for the support of the public schools, thereby almost doubling the annual revenue available for education. Mrs. Grenfell was appointed by the Governor to represent Colorado at the Congress of the Inter-...

Date: 1909

Creator: The Outlook

Format: text

Digital Identifier: AG28-13e-3

Biographical note: Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910) was an author, lecturer, poet, activist, abolitionist and leader in the Women's suffrage movement. Born in New York City to affluent parents, Ward Howe was well educated but expected to be a wife. In 1843 Ward Howe married Samuel Gridley Howe the founding director of Perkins after meeting him at a tour of the school. Despite conventional expectations that she not live a public life she initially published work anonymously before becoming a social activist that wrote, spoke, and worked for many social causes. She is commonly known for writing the words to “Battle Hymn of the Republic” and in 1908, she became the first woman elected to the American Academy of Arts. In 1988 she was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Source: Hale, Jen. (2022) ”Julia Ward Howe”. Hale, Jen. “Julia Ward Howe” Perkins Archives Blog, Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown MA, October 26, 2022

Rights: Samuel P. Hayes Research Library, Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, MA

Monument to Sir James Ley d.1629. and his first wife Mary.

He was Chief Justice of the King's Bench and Lord High Treasurer of England.

The couple had 11 children. His second wife was Mary Bowyer, and his third Jane Butler, they had no issue. The Earl's third marriage is said to have caused bitter family quarrels.

He lived to a good age and died a peaceful death.

Ley was a founder member of the Society of Antiquaries. He was remembered as a poor statesman but an able and impartial judge.

(Info from Inscription and Wikipedia).

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has welcomed 113 new police officers to the ranks.

The new recruits were sworn in at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall last night, Tuesday 24 October 2017.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins, Police and Magistrate Peter Rogerson were in attendance at the legally binding event.

Family and friends of the new officers watched on proudly as each of them made an oath to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

To find out more about Greater Manchester Police please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give a statement.

Greater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 140 new officers to the force at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall on the evening of Wednesday 8 January 2020.

In the presence of family and friends, the new officers took the Police Oath in front of magistrate Stephen Paine. In the oath they swore to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official commencement of their police duties.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins welcomed each new recruit to the force.

Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough, was in attendance as was Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.

Greater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 140 new officers to the force at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall on the evening of Wednesday 8 January 2020.

In the presence of family and friends, the new officers took the Police Oath in front of magistrate Stephen Paine. In the oath they swore to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official commencement of their police duties.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins welcomed each new recruit to the force.

Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough, was in attendance as was Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.

Greater Manchester Police proudly welcomed 140 new officers to the force at an attestation ceremony at Bolton Town Hall on the evening of Wednesday 8 January 2020.

In the presence of family and friends, the new officers took the Police Oath in front of magistrate Stephen Paine. In the oath they swore to uphold the office of constable with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality.

The ceremony marks the official commencement of their police duties.

Chief Constable Ian Hopkins welcomed each new recruit to the force.

Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Hilary Fairclough, was in attendance as was Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

For more information about Policing in Greater Manchester please visit our website. www.gmp.police.uk

To contact Greater Manchester Police for a less urgent matter or make a report online you can also visit www.gmp.police.uk.

You should call 101, the national non-emergency number, to report crime and other concerns that do not require an emergency response.

Always call 999 in an emergency, such as when a crime is in progress, violence is being used or threatened or where there is danger to life.

You can also call anonymously with information about crime to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Crimestoppers is an independent charity who will not want your name, just your information. Your call will not be traced or recorded and you do not have to go to court or give evidence.