Incredible Battle of Trafalgar Square

[RileyDove]

Showing now on BBC2 - the BBC shows it's best journalistic skills by fighting for decent treatment for our forces,

[tezzer]

Disgraceful, but another example of how this country treats it's own.

Very moving.

[timex]

Good effort by Yorkie and the guys.....


Shaun

[Captain Kirk]

How long before an IBN is released, countering the programme? Rather than actually addressing anything!

[OOpsIdiditagain]

I am very proud to say I went to military boarding school with Jonathan, the Green Howard in the wheel chair. It's a bloomin disgrace how these guys have been treated but great that they have been able to make a program like this.

As for Harrod's I'll never set foot near the place again and Al Fayed can rot for his passport as far as I'm concerned.

Interesting how the MOD spokesman/woman (i think that's what she is biologically) reacted to the line of questioning at Selly Oak. That really highlighted how the MOD sees the problem.

[An Teallach]

Excellent programme. The daft bint of a press officer at Selly Oak was hilarious. No wonder MoD can't seem to go near a news story without making a complete pig's ear of it if that's the standard of press officer they employ.

Can any PPRuNers from darn sarf enlighten us as to how long the statue lasted in Trafalgar Square and, if it's not still there, which blairite arslikahn authority had the gall to remove it?

[timex]

An T, try this


http://civviestreet.proboards19.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1169331373


Shaun

[An Teallach]

Cheers, Shaun. I hope a suitable home is found for the most impressive statue. Has anything permanent been put on the 'empty plinth' in Trafalgar Sq yet?

[ProfessionalStudent]

Has anything permanent been put on the 'empty plinth' in Trafalgar Sq yet?

When I was there 3 weeks ago, it still had that nude sculpture of the thalidamide artist Alison Lapper (here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3515560.stm)).

It isn't supposed to be permanent...

The work - entitled Alison Lapper Pregnant, by Marc Quinn - has been selected to fill the empty fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square for 18 months, the latest in a rota of sculptures for the plinth.

...but then the great British public would probably prefer it to "another statue of a soldier"...

[Navy_Adversary]

A very thought provoking programme.
Harrods, absolutely disgraceful.
MOD lady, embarrasing.
Gurkha, he went a bit over the top with his requests:)

It was very disturbing when the TV crew first went to Trafalgar Square and they were asked what they were doing by an official from who knows where.:ugh:

[mystic_meg]

Amazing insight into how our people are yet again treated as second-class citizens. As an aside, I wonder how good the security is at Selly Oak, given the publicity it has had in this, and other programmes? As for the little Egyptian's tatty souk and it's policy towards Servicemen - words fail me. :ugh:

[Right Stuff]

Can someone please fill me in on what I missed? (Particularly ref. Harrods)

[woptb]

Link to the artist who created the sculpture,The Abandoned Soldier;
http://www.relishcreative.com/jamesnapier/index_flash.htm
The artist's web site has a link to a Downing Street petition regarding a permanent position in Trafalgar Square for 'The Abandoned Soldier'.

[Blacksheep]

I know two abandoned soldiers and one abandoned sailor personally.

Well, they're not abandoned by their family and friends of course, but they have been abandoned by their country. :(

[Foxthreekill]

Please sign the Number 10 petition, I can't being a "spam" but you guys can and I can't think of a worthier cause. http://www.relishcreative.com/jamesnapier/index_flash.htm

[skua]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/powertothepeople

skua

[Chris Kebab]

Anybody know if it's due to be repeated?

[Navy_Adversary]

Right stuff
The BBC team arranged for 6 ex-military to go into Harrods via different entrances to buy something whilst wearing their uniforms.

Maybe they should have tried with a Chelsea pensioner

5 of them got slung out by Harrods security, just one didn't, a gent in a wheelchair with his guide dog.


The MOD lady tried to stop the reporter asking a simple question, after a spat he was allowed to ask it.

[Safeware]

Didn't see the programme, but may I take everyone back to this thread:http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=253084 and in particular #34 from Rigex (my bold):

Dear .....(name deleted to protect the innocent)
I write further to your e mail relating to press coverage of the recent incident when Lieutenant Lenherr was stopped from entering the store because he was wearing a military uniform.
First of all I must apologise for the distress these reports may have caused. We are similarly upset at the level of criticism we have received, because many of Harrods employees are ex-service men and women and only the day before we had conducted our own remembrance service at the store’s permanent memorial to the many hundreds of Harrodians who lost their lives in the two world wars.
We do not deny that the incident took place, nor that the situation could have been handled more sensitively, albeit I would like to take the opportunity to explain the background.
Harrods does indeed have an entrance policy relating to various forms of attire. This policy has been altered over the years in line with the cultural climate and also, of course, to meet the specific requirements of our customers.
There is a historical precedent in place which relates specifically to those wearing uniforms - the main reason for which is that certain customers can be alarmed by the sight of uniforms - assuming that there is some sort of incident going on.
In conclusion, whilst we understand from the authorities that uniformed military personnel are discouraged from wearing their uniform other than at their place of work and in transit to and from work – we appreciate that on this occasion the security officer followed the guidelines to the letter rather than using his discretion or seeking advice.
All of that said, the level of interest in this story has led us to take a closer look at the policy and we will certainly remind our security officers to act more sensitively in the future.
Thank you for taking the time and trouble to bring your views to our attention.
Yours sincerely
Laurence Williams
Manager
Customer Services

Obviously haven't learned then have they?

sw

[GOLF_BRAVO_ZULU]

Quote:

The work - entitled Alison Lapper Pregnant, by Marc Quinn .
They name the father?

I agree with Navy_Adversary; the MoD PR woman was a total disgrace and will probably have earned herself a performance Bonus next year! Similarly, I also think that the retired Gurk officer wasn't being completely realistic. As the MA in Nepal implied, it must be balanced against the wider Nepalese Economy and the need not to distort it. It also has to be balanced against the conditions agreed with the Indian Army who similarly recruit Gurkhas. With regard to Harrods, some barrels have the rotten apple at the top.

[Mr-AEO]

I thought this was a good programme, the only hiccup I spotted was when he walked into the hospital to speak to the Army Officer, who was actually RAF (credibility down the pan and all that).

[Rocket Chucker]

Well done beeb for a good effort on the documentary. Shame about the little slip up regarding the Army/RAF doc. :D

PR sort was incredible. :ugh:

I think the statue would translate really well into a lapel type badge that could be purchsed, along the same lines as a poppy, but all year round. This would keep it in the public eye and put funds into the area where they are really needed; in supporting OUR men and women who have for whatever reason been injured whilst serving in the forces.

Perhaps the BL could pick up on it, the government obviously haven't got the will or backbone to support them and I think there would be enough support from 'Joe Public' to make it a worthwhile venture.

Suggest bright red to really get it noticed - like the poppy.

[Headstone]

Didn't/Couldn't see the programme mentioned. However regarding Al Fayeds and Harrods treatment of servicemen in uniform. When I was deployed to Bosnia to work as liaison with some very fine Army chaps we were given half a dozen cans each of Harrods beer and some other snacks and goodies all free gatis from Harrods. Also I know of some army ex-rankers that were employed by Harrods in their security dept. It appears that whilst Al Fayed was often seen as a hard nosed task master who would have loved to sack people on the spot for minor offences he went out of his way to employ servicemen and the majority had loads of praise for their conditions and treatment. Has this changed - doesn't he employ ex-servicemen anymore - if he does why aren't they speaking up?

[Navy_Adversary]

I have just had an e-mail from '10 Downing Street' stating that they have received my signature on the petition.

Just a thought, I bet the politicians who were sadly injured in the Grand Hotel Brighton bombing did not get abandoned by the government.

[MReyn24050]

Chris Kebab wrote:-
Anybody know if it's due to be repeated?

If you have Virgin Cable it is on "On demand" TV Hits under BBC2.