Suzanne Fletcher's Blog

Back home to a deluge of e-mails and calls about a proposed mobile phone mast on Darlington Lane - that grass verge is too popular with unpopular causes!  Vodaphone are doing nothing to help their proposal.  They wrote to us as Councillors at the same time as some local people, and as the letter arrived on Saturday morning in was Monday before anything could be found out from the Council about process or anything else.  By then people were up in arms, upset, and worried.  The letter to people did not make it at all clear that it was a letter asking for views before planning approval was applied for.  Only 15 people received the letter, but we didn't know which, and goodness only knows what criteria they used.   It appears that not all of us have had the same letter.  The letter refers to a 15 m high mast but the plan show it is 17.3 m with the antennae on top.  Then they wonder why people have no confidence in them when they say it is safe!

Telling people that they cannot object on health risks because the Government says there is no proven risk isn't going down well at all.  There is just no trust left.  Sad, but given the history of Governement in the 26 years plus that I have been Councillor, inevitable.

Another day in the steps of Brass Crosby, but my steps back home were not very easy.  John had gone home the day before for Mayoral engagements so I was in charge of the wheely case.  Stumped at Victoria by the long flight of steps down I went to the information desk to ask if there was a lift I could use, surely there must be one, even if not for use by all the public.  I was given a blunt "no".  So I asked if I could have assistance with getting my case down the steps, I couldn't possibly carry it down.  Another blunt "no".  I was directed to the number 73 bus "just over there".  However there were no dropped kerbs on the way over and I had to walk on the road in a very busy part of London to get to the stop.  I find it hard to believe that the hub of our capital city is so backwards in such simple provision.  People complain about London being "full of foreigners" but I must say that they helped so pleasantly lifting the case on and off buses and the train.  I did catch the train with 2 minutes to spare after the 50 minute bus journey!

More enjoyable was the Brass Crosby research.  I was met in Chelsfield by a friendly and helpful Church worker and along with Geoff Copus, who has also done Crosby research, was taken to the local Church where Brass worshipped and was buried.  I had an exciting time as I inspected the silver patten he had given the Church, and found it had been stolen in 1935 but eventually returned by post! They must have had a more reliable postal system in those days.  Also I saw the original entry for his death in the Parish registers; large plaque to him memory in the Church; wonderful new extension for a Parish Room called the "Brass Crosby Room"; kneelers with his crest on.  The Church bells were the very same that he would have heard all those years ago.  On the way out I saw the blue plaque that had started my search when I was asked in the Town Hall "who was Crosby?" and I had gone onto google, finding the information on the plaque.

Over to the 5 Bells for lunch where I had a great time listening to the exploits of some of the locals who were also interested in local history.  I suggested that they wrote a book about what they had got up to and surprisingly they had! It sounded as though it had been quite controversial - so what.  If only more people took to trouble to record what they got up to in younger days it would be fun for us to read ( even if it wasn't too complimentary to some of us) and make research in the future so much easier.

A kind lift to Orpington and I was back in the British Museum Print room in an hour.  I am fascinated how much detail there is on the satires of the 18^th Century, and it was interesting to note that on each of the one's depicting Brass Crosby there was always a cap of Liberty on a pole, and Justice, represented by Britannia. 

It is one thing writing down what is happening - quite a feat to record it in a detailed satirical cartoon!

I have spent the last 2 days in London researching the life and times of Brass Crosby, the Stockton born man who made it possible for the proceedings of Parliament to be published, but was sent to the Tower for his efforts in 1771. It has been very tiring, I've walked more miles than the sponsored walk, and could have done with that scooter at times! However it has been exciting to make some new discoveries, to see the originals items, and find out more. The staff at the places I have been to have been so helpful and all were very interested in the Stockton connection. So I have been to the British Museum, The Guildhall, Mansion House and National Portrait Gallery. I've found an inscribed bowl, original cartoons, a huge portrait, engravings and press cuttings. Also I have visited the Obelisk in St Georges Circus where I met some young people filming skateboarding, telling me about the set up needed for a skateboard facility in Stockton. Exploring the Bread Street Ward in the City I was amazed to see that The City still had the ancient version of Aldermen and Common Councillors. I'll post some pictures when I get home.

I was intrigued to see that in the 18^th Century one way of commemorating Political occasions, satire or people was by making a range of crockery from teapots to bowls and plates. Also that when giving a cup, as Brass Crosby was to mark the great feat he had achieved, it gave the price on it! £200. Imagine giving a work colleague a gift inscribed with "given by colleagues at a cost of X£".

A couple of things struck me that had changed in London. There is a lot less traffic which is good, and presumably thanks to the congestion charge. Also loads of people are walking round the streets with cups of coffee in cardboard containers. Strange, especially when seeing someone with holder carrying 8, presumably back to the office - whatever happened to kettles!

Oh, and I've been to Buckingham Palace to the Garden Party and seen the Queen too!

Having done the 4 miles of the Mayor's Sponsored walk yesterday, I didn't think my joints would stand a second stint today.  However I very much wanted to be able to see the lower parts of the river that I had only seen from the car on bridges.  Help was at hand.  Bon Campbell, Countryside Warden for the River Tees, who is also a trustee of Shopmobility, suggested I used one of the mobility scooters to do the whole walk this afternoon.  Me in a mobility scooter ?  I'm not that old, and not that bad ?  But - did I want to see the river downstream of the barrage or didn't I ?  Did I want to join in with all the other people and enjoy the company ? Did I want to raise £20 per mile?  Well the answer to all 3 was yes, so after a brief instruction on the easy controls I was off !

I managed to negotiate the shopping centre but I did have the feeling that people were looking at me strangely as if to say "what's matter with her".  I half expected someone to ask one of the people with me, I was in a "disability" scooter so could I be expected to speak for myself ?  However nobody asked, and despite people walking in front I did negotiate through without bumping into anyone and onto the footbridge over the riverside road.  I didn't think I would manage the corners of the ramps down, but slowly did it and I was on the riverside path. 

Did I enjoy myself ?  A resounding yes.  I loved it.  I had never walked past the Princess Diana bridge and there were banks of roses on either side of the path.  A temporary diversion because of works to the magnificent new bridge did cause a few problems.  First of all I had to negotiate a barrier and was only able to do so because a friend pulled back the bushes on the side.  Someone said there was a better route the other way round - but there were no signposts to tell you this.  Then a caravan parked on the pavement so I had to go on a road - people just don't think do they!

I was amazed as I went past the barrage and there were the Portrack marshes on our left with ponds, bulrushes and lots of birds.  Lots of wildflowers on the sides of the path, and I was just the right speed to be able to take all of that it in, along with views of the river and its bridges.  Fantastic.

I was pleased that I negotiated the Newport Bridge successfully and we were on the return leg.  However there was a gate across the path just before the bridge and had I been on my own or just with friends that would have been it.  I would have had to turn round and go back the way I came.  Bob Campbell had a key so that was OK for today - what about other days and other people I thought ? Had anyone thought of this when they put it there ?

Nobody else was cold, but I was as I scooted along not using any energy, but the kagoul in rucksack (in a handy little basket at the back of the scooter) was fine.

The problems started when we were nearly back to the Town Centre.  First of all the heavens opened and it threw it down, and scooting into the rain is definitely not fun.  Turning to see if traffic is coming as you cross the road is difficult with a hood up, and my hands were frozen.  No putting in pockets - they were needed to keep the scooter going!  Silly me not taking gloves on a July outing, but I would if using a scooter again.  As I went through puddles I was careful to slow down and not splash anyone but thought how awful it would be in a wheelchair, especially one you pushed the wheels on yourself.

I had gone ahead with Julia in Teesdale so as to try to get back to the Castlegate Centre before they closed it and minimise time out in the rain.  However negotiating the dropped kerbs was very difficult.  You didn't know in advance what dropped kerbs would be where.  Julia helped a lot running on in advance to look, but I still ended up having to go on the road and round a roundabout on that road to reach the beginning of the millennium bridge.  The Shopping Centre was closed off by the time we got there so the dual carriageway of the riverside road had to be negotiated.  Where were the crossings ? and even more important where were the dropped kerbs to get to them ?  Again Julia helped, thank goodness I wasn't on my own, and thank goodness I wasn't pushing someone in a wheelchair the extra walking they had to do.  Negotiating the crossings was difficult.  The so called dropped kerb badly jolted my back; you needed to be very slow to approach the crossing quickly speeding up to get over before the green man went off.

Back to base.  Wet, cold and jolted, but had I enjoyed the afternoon - a definite yes, I was delighted to have had the opportunity of seeing places, the river and the wildlife I would not have had otherwise, and I so much enjoyed everyone's company.  However I am glad I don't have to go everywhere on a scooter, there are limitations and problems that able bodied people don't have to even think about.  Thank you to Bob and Shopmobility for making today possible.

There will be more pictures on the official Mayor's Blog in a few days, along with what else happened.

It was the Mayor's sponsored walk today.  There is a write up on his blog and on Maureen Rigg's blog to save me writing and the photos will be on the official Mayor's Blog next week.  I will just add my personal bit.  I was immensely proud of myself managing the 4 miles around the river, mainly thanks to friendly encouragement from fellow walkers, being sponsored at £20 a mile (although more welcome now!) and it really is lovely pastoral scenery by the river.  I want to say a big thank you to all who work so hard at keeping the paths and area so good to walk on, and that includes a number of volunteers working to make our area so nice.