As a regular reader, I deplore the headline and story about the man with the giant guitar, especially at this festive and generous time of year.
What good does it serve to characterise a private trade dispute with a German museum as a “battle” in your headline or in the first paragraph talk of declaring war on “the Germans”? British and German people have been at peace for 70 years – more than three generations – and yet you play the tabloid race card by framing a simple local story with wartime connotations.
Are you unaware that a significant number of German tourists and students visit our area throughout the year, that we have German residents who chose to move here and that prior to the Second World War a number of German refugees found sanctuary and a new life in and around Dartington Hall, many of whom made significant contributions to British life?
The fact that this constituency voted ‘remain’ might indicate to you that the majority of the local population are not interested in rehashing tired national enmities.
I’m sceptical of the Stop Funding Hate campaign, but am beginning to see what insidious and insular press attitudes they’re arguing against.
So get over it and wake up to the 21st century – it’s nearly 2018.
Matt White
Harberton
The foodbank is here to help
In response to Steve Grey’s account of appalling treatment at the hands of a system more committed to austerity than to welfare, let me promote again the existence and purpose of the Kingsbridge Foodbank.
We would be more than happy to provide emergency food supplies to Mr Grey and his wife. If he cannot get in to us on a Friday morning, 10am to noon, at Horizons, next to the museum at the top of Fore Street, we may be able to deliver. Please call us on 07593 881633.
Many local people – shoppers, schoolchildren, churchgoers – have given items and money most generously, particularly lately, obviously aware of the increasing hardships of these times.
At the foodbank we are informed of various cuts and delays to benefits, and of the failure to refund travel costs for obligatory attendance at one thing and another.
With the roll-out of Universal Credit in our area, we can only see the demand increasing for foodbanks and other charitable organisations to make up for what the Government cannot do.
Roger Tyler
Kingsbridge Foodbank