Comments for Richard Taylor

Rosemary Jones on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Rosemary Jones — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:25:28 +0000

At least there’s still a cedar tree in Holy Trinity Churchyard Dalston - East London, or adjacent to it, the photo isn’t that clear, the photo showing a clown at the annual service in memory of Joseph Grimaldi. Here, the Council is distancing itself even further from equal opps on culture by taking a part of the dead tree to another graveyard, which in American Indian mythology, means the memories of the departed, the cedar embodies, are being transported in a prematurely dead vehicle to another cemetery, which doesn’t have a living cedar tree as far as I can recall. It is difficult to prove that the American Indian reverence for this species is related to the Asian and European expression, but it is certain that such a tree would inspire reverence from anyone who appreciates the divine in the Creation, and, sadly that doesn’t include local Anglican Church representatives and obviously no one in the dominant party in this Council.

Malc on IPCC Says Police Complaints System Flawed and Underfunded

Malc — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:20:17 +0000

I used to work in the police as a pcso,and have made simple enquires on the Dorset Police website to my local snt,i had no reply,so sent to snt sgt,no reply sent to snt inspector,this went on and on.and I have been pushed from pillar to post,I have also questioned why a snt poster has not been changed since the snt pc left office 30 months ago.This is poor engagement by that snt,I also asked the local snt pcso what she has done in her community to help the vulnerable oap,as my father who is dying of cancer is vulnerable when he gets his pension, due to un desirables who hang outside the post office.i have been refused help by this superintendant and he has turned his back on me and my terminal ill father.I pay taxes for a service that Im not receiving,Police should remember they are a public service,and that they are there to serve and help the public,This superintendant is a disgrace to the uniform and not honouring his loyalty to upholding to the queens subjects. Who do these people think they are to treat members of the public with such a degree of negligence,they get beyond themselves with the high rank on there epaulets,they are in like a lawful gang so they can bully the public with there power.,
Does anyone know if he can do this,where is his accountability,and proportinality,do I not have rights,does my dying father not have the right to be protected,what is a Safer Neighbourhood Team being paid high wages for if they wont help.

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:22:24 +0000

P.S. Is it realistic to think that the cedar wood art creation will last long before vandals target it in Mill Road cemetery? That area will not be “monitored” in the way the Council seem to think they can “monitor” use of the restored shelter in Sidney Street (not sure that is realistic, either)… There has been a distinct lack of realism and intelligence throughout this saga

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:04:32 +0000

The Red Cedar (and indeed the hollies) would have looked amazing in all this snow… It’s a shame the snow didn’t happen a week ago, it would have at least postponed the horrible felling operations (and bought objectors a little more time)… So maybe the soulless ones at the Council knew of the long-range weather forecast, and so brought forward the felling date, “just to make sure”…

The Cambridge News continues to be very much ‘pro Dryden-anti tree’, with an article on Thurs Feb 2 titled: “Memorial emerges from the Shadows”. Then two unconvincing ‘before + after’ photos, and an opening sentence: “Views of a Cambridge street have been transformed…”, as though it’s a change for the better. Then something about “Previous Council meetings heard the tree left the shelter in the dark, which meant it was little used and often vandalised”……. What bunkum, to blame the tree for all of that… It also says the Council “Looked at all reasonable ways of retaining the Red Cedar”… utter tosh.

Apparently wood from the tree is to be used for an ‘art’ project in Mill Road Cemetery - very weird - they might have been better relocating the entire wooden shelter there - though then I suppose there would be no doubt at all that drunks and drug-users etc would frequent it (though I still think it will be once again beset by similar ASB issues in Sidney Street anyway).

Rosemary Jones on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Rosemary Jones — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 04:06:32 +0000

Council 4 Heritage 0 may about to be a further defeat for everything cept money and sanitization, the target this time the houses to be replaced by a newbuild adjacent to Parkers Piece.

Maybe the Lib Dem Councillors could group to decide whether or not it is in the City’s (and their own electoral) interest to continue the relentless attack on what we are used to. And why this attack ? Keeping officers busy ? Officers demanding to be busy ? The equivalent of a cosmetic fetish ?

Fortunately, the Freedom of Information Act means we will be able to see how a UK City Council and a Charity as significant as the War Memorial Trust could not work out between them how to move a memorial two or three yards back to a more peaceful and less noisy place in a churchyard so that a much loved tree could remain.

Perhaps the grouping Lib Dem Councillors would do well to also take a straightforward problem solving test, with the highest scorers automatically taking over the policy decision making.

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:07:39 +0000

P.S. I emailed a ‘zero hour’ letter to the Cambridge News late Friday, but it was not printed (and with a little editing) until yesterday, the day AFTER the felling…. groan… (I sent them another last night, a polite one, but I don’t suppose they will print it…)

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:03:14 +0000

Hi Linden, I was concerned that you might not have heard about this in time…. Sadly they have done what I think they were ALWAYS going to do, no matter WHAT was pointed out re. the flaws in their procedures (and errors which influenced decision-making at ALL the “committees” etc that they say this went through - “It’s been through all the committees” seems to be the Council’s way of saying “We’ve done everything correctly”… SO INTRANSIGENT.. I had a frightful phonecall (not a good idea when I have M.E…) about this with one of those involved, just recently - they totally “stonewalled” me, etc). Plus the Council ignored new info about the cedar’s importance, etc etc (the lack of hollies isn’t great either, is it?). The War Memorials Trust were at fault too about not funding restoration if the shelter was moved JUST A LITTLE (but the council did not approach them in the right way - they have continually blamed the cedar for the ASB that caused the shelter to fall into disrepair…)

I don’t feel like going anywhere near that area now (but have to as it is my local area) - the gaping void really is painful to see (and feel)…

Linden on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Linden — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:53:37 +0000

I hadn’t logged on for a while, so hadn’t heard about the imminent date for felling. Was walking towards Holy Trinity this afternoon. And wondering whether to send the Council a couple of drawings I’d done of the tree at the end of last year, showing its prominent position in the street. Was just about to send the tree(s) my usual good wishes/vibes as I drew level with the church….

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:04:12 +0000

Nothing in the local news yet… Maybe they won’t want to whip up any further criticism of the Council and this particular project? Have got nothing more to say that is printable..

Rosemary Jones on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Rosemary Jones — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:11:03 +0000

One of the people at the tree’s felling said that the cedar tree legend was well known, and that there were many examples of this tree being planted near war memorials and in burial grounds (or words to that effect). Though they are employed by the Council, they didn’t have anything to do with this project, which is one reason the councillors may not have known about the tree’s significance, the other being that the then lead tree officer either wasn’t sufficiently trained to research before speaking or under pressure to prove the tree was of no significance so it could be felled to enable the £10K WMT grant. Anyway, next time, they should do the research before the first councillor meeting, because in this Council, once a decision is made, it is difficult to change it, such is the group cohesion, and even though,as in this case, the consequences deny residents the everyday evergreen experience which the cedar provided in Sidney Street. It has yet to be decided whether or not English Heritage will get their wish that another cedar is planted near the War Memorial, and it is very unlikely a roadside CO2 absorber will be installed to make up for the tree’s absence, unless of course, the next council are climate change aware to the extent of putting the money where the climate action is.

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:47:08 +0000

18.45pm. Have just been to inspect the Terrible Void - I couldn’t bear to be anywhere near while the chainsaws were actually there (astonished too that they must have done it during the day and, as David said, in full view of shoppers, tourists etc). Just one sorry stump, and a rather lovely aroma of Cedar….. but I feel truly deeply sad. Outraged too that a greater effort was not made to accommodate tree and shelter (rather than going for the quick-fix, cheapest option?) - it would not have been that complicated to sort out….

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:19:38 +0000

Now What? The usual “after-the-event” outcry? Sensationalist headlines about the tree felling in our esteemed local paper?

In a year’s time a photo of Cllr Dryden in said paper, looking forlorn because the restored wooden shelter has again fallen victim to ASB (”how could this happen”?… doh) and with no “tree is blocking the view/making it dark” excuse)? Plus the (easily accessible) lead on the roof will also have been stolen?

Spectacularly bad PR for this Council….

Rosemary Jones on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Rosemary Jones — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:00:46 +0000

The evergreenery and the connotations are not going to be replaced, despite English Heritage wanting another cedar tree in the Churchyard. When reminded about the conifer capacity to sequester CO2 at 4 times the rate of deciduous trees, one of which is the intended replacement, there was no recognition of the relevance of this to climate change. The replacement deciduous tree was chosen by the Councillor who chaired the first meeting about the tree and when the then lead tree officer dismissed the cedar as ’self seeded’,(or maybe by a passing bird) something which he emphasised in his summing up and which could have been why the 4:4 vote became 5:4 against the tree because he voted twice. When asked why the consultation hadn’t included a survey of the opinions of passers by, one of the three Council officers watching, and quite happily, said that it would have been too expensive. They were there for at least an hour, and such a survey could have been done by one less well paid officer in half the time. When reminded that Cambridge residents had asked that no more healthy trees should be felled, the response was that the Council had to manage many trees in the City, and had planted at least twice the number it had felled.
When reminded that felling a tree is also destroying an eco system, the conversation was terminated by the sound of the chainsaw.

Rosemary Jones on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Rosemary Jones — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:22:21 +0000

This dereliction of consciousness is apparent in the Anglican Church, who don’t seem to register the word ‘desecration’, the charities who are not able to promote the totality of what they stand for, and the politicians who can no longer assign meaning to words like Holy Trinity, Tree of Life and War memorial. I guess this deficiency will remain until people everywhere realise it is not going to ensure them or their children a sustainable future, and require meritocracies to oversee their lives.

Rosemary Jones on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Rosemary Jones — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:55:47 +0000

The reasons for the association between cedar trees and burial grounds generally is well described -www.dulaneysofmississippi.blogspot.com/cedareesin cemeteries, and, though I have been banned from reaching Councillor Cantrill directly, I have written this plus a long list of examples, there are thousands more, to English Heritage who are requesting the Council determines the tree’s significance before it is felled, and this is copied to Council CEO, Legal Department, Environment Department, Open Space etc.
The WMT still don’t understand why being party to a project which includes the demolition of a feature significantly commemorating the War Dead contravenes the Charity Commission guidelines, or why I am referring the Trust to the Commission. Presumably the background will be sufficient to enable people everywhere to see exactly what has happened and why, and all because of the untruths which were allowed to stand.

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:35:10 +0000

Many many thanks for checking that out, wab. Shame no mention of trees. Perhaps the Cedar/Arbor Vitae was added a little later (and certainly not by a bird). And, as you say, still no reason to justify its felling.

wab on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

wab — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:24:04 +0000

The Shire Hall archives room is closed on Mondays but fortunately the Cambs Collection in the central library also has a copy of the pamphlet for the “Ceremony of Unveiling and Dedication” of the Holy Trinity War Memorial (C.62.PAM).

Unfortunately the pamphlet is mostly about the service that was conducted inside the church. There is a brief description of the memorial itself but no mention of any trees. There is a sketch of the memorial by someone by the name of E.C. Hullock, and that does not show any tree where the cedar is (but then again, it might not).

There is an article in the 15 May 1922 Cambridge Daily News and it also does not mention anything about trees, just that the memorial was meant as “a place of rest and shelter”.

Of course none of this means that they should be cutting the tree down.

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:54:22 +0000

Imagine the scene without the two Holly trees too - another very bad decision.

Will the stump of the Cedar remain, perhaps with a plaque to dedicate the whole sorry mess and Lack of Greenery to Mrs Diana Oviatt-Ham, the (then) Principal Tree Officer at the Council, who managed to persuade enough people (especially Councillors and then the WMT) that the Cedar was of little importance as it was…. (SORRY to have to say this YET AGAIN)… “likely to be self-set, from a chance seed dropped by a bird”…..?

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:41:51 +0000

They may well do the felling overnight when tourists, passers-by etc are few and far between? Won’t there have to be a road closure for safety reasons, too?

WHY can’t the Council and the War Memorials Trust admit their errors and work towards the (SIMPLE, frankly) solution of moving the wooden shelter just a LITTLE further back (preferable anyway) and therefore preserving this amazing tree???

ANYONE out there able to persuade them, as we approach ‘Zero Hour’?

David on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

David — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:14:42 +0000

Notwithstanding all of the above, I think people are going to be quite shocked when this tree is cut down tomorrow.

Take a look at the photo near the top of this article and then imagine a group of tree surgeons turning up with a chainsaw, and cutting it down in front of shoppers, tourists and other passers-by.

A lot people will be appalled by this act of vandalism and the apparent lack of consultation.

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:37:59 +0000

I would go to the library and look this up, but am unable to do so because of a long-term illness (I have tried checking it out online before but couldn’t find anything). Hope there is someone somewhere able to check it and find some answers!!

Richard Taylor on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Richard Taylor — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:59:09 +0000

wab didn’t include a link; there are various documents held by Cambridgeshire County Council in its archives relating to the construction and unveiling of the memorial. The link to one of them is here (currently down).

The Cambridge Central Library has copies of The Cambridge News (and its predecessors) on microfiche.

wab on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

wab — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:11:33 +0000

Google:

cambridge “holy trinity” “war memorial”

This leads to a link with the following information (the relevant Cambs County server is dead right now, but it’s unlikely there is more information than the below online):

Programme of ceremony of unveiling and dedication of Holy Trinity War Memorial, (Sunday) 14 May 1922, P22/6/17.

There might be something in there, if this cedar tree was planted then. There might also be something in the Cambridge Evening News on 15 May 1922 (or a day or two later).

Has anyone looked this up?

Adam Pogonowski on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Adam Pogonowski — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:48:18 +0000

If this felling date has been moved it is an outrage, and very underhand from Council officers, Cllr. Rod Cantrill, and Cllr. Sian Reid, the Leader. I have emailed to ask about it, but even though Cllr. Cantrill responded immediately to another email just before the one I sent about date of felling, he hasn’t bothered to reply to that one.

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:29:29 +0000

Yes, just moving the shelter back a metre or so was hardly such a big ask of the War Memorials Trust, was it? And they must surely be aware that cedars are often planted next to memorial features - yet they never picked up on this when the Council asked to move the shelter a little because of a Cedar tree (a move which would have enabled this wonderful tree element of the Holy Trinity War Memorial to survive)……………

Philip Gould on Cambridgeshire County Council Police Crime and Libraries Scrutiny December 2011

Philip Gould — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 15:07:45 +0000

It seems impossible to claim that the post of Police Commissioner will NOT be political as the organisation of the political parties will be used during the election.The Chief Constable must still be the person in charge as they will have the experience and in law will be reponsible for operations, not a person with no experience of policing.
I make my comments as a retired police officer who held a command rank.

Rosemary Jones on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Rosemary Jones — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:36:53 +0000

Perhaps Cambridge doesn’t deserve a tree as magnificent as this one, certainly the War Memorial Trust need a revamp, as they have facilitated its demise. How ? They did not accept the Council saying on the funding application that the Memorial is at risk from the tree’s overhanging branches, which meant they wouldn’t fund its renovation if it was moved. So the Council’s been scared of losing the funding and therefore they are going to fell the tree. That means the WMT is now party to a desecration - the tree would have been blessed at the War Memorial’s inauguration, and acting against the interests of what memorials represent, hardly good charitable practice. Not that the Council couldn’t have worked it differently, but the tree officer at the time, with a reputation for cutting conifers, was determined the tree was of no consequence, and once that was doing the rounds, round the Council it was with no one prepared to take on the bad mythology. Still, a phone call to the Leader or to Councillor Cantrill might get them to open their emails, even at this late stage, because at least one of those emails they will need to take notice of.

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:59:36 +0000

Maybe God will intervene on Monday and whip up a biblical storm…?

Wendy on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Wendy — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:52:56 +0000

The Council say that they are “aware of the relationship between War Memorials and Cedar Trees” (Arbor Vitae/Tree of Life)… YET… their OWN Principal Tree Officer told councillors, at a crucial meeting (the one where the vote was tied at 4-4 and then the Chair had a casting vote, meaning that they had - undemocratically - voted twice) that this particular Cedar was “from a chance seed, dropped by a bird”…. despite the fact that it is carefully positioned next to the memorial shelter… Oh Dear, I think I’ve had (more than) ENOUGH of Planet Cambridge….

Rosemary Jones on Holy Trinity Church War Memorial Trees

Rosemary Jones — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:29:43 +0000

I was misinformed about the commencement of felling. It is Monday unless the weather prohibits it. The Council today say they were aware of the relationship between war memorials and cedar trees. The officers and councillors responsible for breaking that tradition will be walking past the site alsmost everyday. Will they be even thinking how their disrespect of the War Dead led to their actions or will they continue to be, as their blog says, delighted at the outcome ?