July 2008

LETTERS

A long apprenticeship

Dear Editor,
It was with great pleasure that I read about the recent appointment of Paul Denny as the Southwold Town Mace Bearer. Apart from being such an excellent choice, I wonder how many of your readers were aware that Paul had some practise in that role many years before!

I enclose a photo of Paul with another Southwold lady mayor Miss Fanny Foster looking on; the occasion was Coronation year 1953 in the Fancy Dress Parade!

From the left-hand side at the back, the person in the military uniform was a councillor, Peter Woodard, then the Town Clerk, Mr Liquorice, Fanny Foster the Mayor, myself as Town Crier and Paul Denny as the Mace Bearer. The photo was taken by Norman Parker, the Southwold photographer at the time. The photographers were where the extension of the Crown dining rooms is today.
Jamie Thompson

Note: Jamie Thompson has kindly agreed to allow a copy of this photograph and others in his collection to be included in the Southwold Museum photographic archive.

Unfortunately, another threat looms…

Dear Editor,
Over four million people across the UK, including many residents of Southwold and Reydon, choose to receive their state pensions and benefits at the Post Office using the Post Office Card Account (POCA). However, this service is now under threat. The Government is currently considering bids to run a new POCA from 2010 and we have serious concerns that they may award it to another bidder.

I believe that the Post Office is best placed to provide this service. There are still more post offices throughout the country than all of the banks and building societies put together. Without the POCA, it has been estimated that a further 3,000 post offices across the country will be forced to close. Coming on top of the latest round of closures, which have already had such an impact on our own community, the loss of the Card Account may have even greater implications for our local service.
I should like to thank all of our customers who have recently completed cards asking our MP, John Gummer, to take action on this. In addition, I have asked him to write to the Prime Minister to urge that the Government awards the contract to the Post Office. If it fails to do so, the consequences for local post offices will be devastating.

Guy Mitchell, Southwold Post Office

A request for help

Dear Editor,
My name is Isobel Pierce and I am a second-year geography student at Birmingham University. As part of my course, I have to write a dissertation, and I have chosen to look at the impact of second homes in Southwold and whether residents feel that their numbers need to be controlled. I would really like to talk to local residents and was wondering whether there is anyone who would be interested in participating.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Isobel Pierce, Birmingham University
E-mail address available on request from the Editor dominic@southwoldorgan.com

Do you remember me?

Dear Editor,
About three years ago, I wrote to find out if anyone remembered me in Southwold. Had no replies, so I thought I would try again and this time send some photos. My name is Lita Perkins. My dad was the Verger at St Edmunds Church. I lived there from birth in 1955 till 1962. We then moved to Bromley, Kent. Anyway, would be nice to here from anyone who remembers me. Here are some photos. Hope to hear from someone soon.
Lita Perkins
E-mail address available on request from the Editor dominic@southwoldorgan.com