What's in a name, or myths about charities (Part 1)

Sadly some people lose all sense of reason when it comes to charities.  After all, isn't charity all about volunteering to do good works for the benefit of the poorer sections of our society?  No!! is the short answer.

A dose of reality:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/charity-inquiry-the-public-safety-charitable-trust-limited/charity-inquiry-the-public-safety-charitable-trust-limited

The Charity Commission doing its job.  Health warning: don't be fooled by the word 'charity'.  Quite apart from examples of .charities not being charities in law  there is a list of the types of activity deemed to be charitable. including the advancement of education which covers private schools:-as we know, well-trodden haunts of the poor.  The legal framework needs wholesale change.

The Centre of Industrial England

You would be forgiven should you think the answer is Birmingham or Sheffield. The centre, according to Chesterfield  Borough Council, was Chesterfield and in recognition of this the boundary signs on the main roads leading into the town had the strap-line 'The Centre of Industrial England'.   The validity of the claim depends on definition.  Is the 'centre' geographical, based on numbers of people engaged in industry, or some other measure.  Ambiguity and/or vagueness may be an attribute!

Chesterfield has a rich industrial heritage. Coal mining, ironworks, heavy engineering all gone along with their supply chains.

All aboard

Television news has shown images of near-empty trains during the rush hour (Underground apart).  Given the cost of commuter travel and the time involved how likely is it that many people will seek to work at least part if not all of the working week from home or local offices?  The savings in cash and time would be considerable for people in commuter belts.  Would reductions in long distance business travel make the case for HS2 even more shaky?

Smoke gets in your eyes.

A few days ago a near neighbour lit a bonfire made of garden waste. A lot of smoke drifted on the breeze. Someone complained to Tunbridge Wells Borough Council using an on-line form. Today I received a letter from the Council thanking me for my 'recent call'. However I made no such call. Whoever did used my name and address .but the e-mail address was not mine!

Free Bus to Sheffield

I was born in Sheffield and lived my early years in the city.  A long-time supporter of the Blades and Yorkshire cricket I visited the city many times.  I live now  in Kent and I have not been to Sheffield for over 30 years.  The nearest I came was travelling on the M1 over Tinsley viaduct.

Now is the time to rectify this sad state of affairs. I plan to travel to Sheffield for free, using my 'pensioners' bus pass.  Working out the route has not been easy, but it can be done.  I look on it as an adventure.

My destination is Pond Street Bus Station, now rather grandly known as Sheffield Interchange.