15 May 2013
Dear fellow members and friends
The last newsletter was one of the longer ones – so I’m trying to keep this one a lot shorter If you haven’t already done so please sign the joint petition on the Number 10 website, calling for the Government to implement the recommendations supported by the Times, Sustrans, the AA, British Cycling and the CTC.
Talking of the CTC, unless you’re a member you probably won’t be aware of this (from CycleClips )
CTC is shocked at the derisory sentence handed down to Gary McCourt, who killed 75-year-old CTC member Audrey Fyfe in August 2011. CTC Councillor for Scotland Peter Hayman, who attended her funeral, said: “A sentence of 300 hours of community service and only a 5-year ban is scandalous and goes against the efforts to encourage cycling.” Previously, the driver had served time in jail for killing another cyclist. Moreover, when explaining the sentence, Sheriff James Scott mentioned that Mrs Fyfe was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, which, in his view, may have “contributed to her death”. CTC is asking you to support Mrs Fyfe’s family in their appeal against the sentence by sending a letter to the Lord Advocate in Scotland
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Festival open houses
If you can do try and drop in at the Open Houses of our members Tessa and Fred.
Tessa Wolfe Murray and Guests. Art and Gifts at 38 Lorna Road, Hove.Weekends and Bank Holiday
Fred’s prints and “vintage oil paintings “ at 17 Clyde Road – round the corner from the Dragonfly house – on Sundays only.
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The ride on 23 June is becoming urgent. I can’t be “backstop” this time- I’ll be at a university reunion in Sheffield that weekend. If you’re short of ideas Jim has a couple of “ready made” ride suggestions – contact him at j.r.grozier@btinternet.com
Any offers?
Ian.
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Sheila Schaffer Memorial Lecture – Jim reports
At least 5 Clarion members – Joyce, Leon, Anne, Richard and myself – attended the memorial lecture for former member Sheila Schaffer on May 10th, organised by Joyce on behalf of Brighton & Hove United Nations Association. With Leon chairing, both Joyce and Sheila’s son Simon gave brief portraits of Sheila’s life, before handing over to the main speaker, Victoria Brittain.
Victoria’s lecture, “Invisible Victims of the War on Terror”, was based on her recent book, “Shadow Lives: The Forgotten Women of the War on Terror” (Pluto Press 2013). She highlighted women and families who had suffered due to the incarceration of their husbands and fathers in Guantanamo, and also those detained without charge or trial in Britain’s own version of Guantanamo – HMP Belmarsh – as well as the families of those on control orders and immigration bail, and the pernicious rôle of secret evidence in hampering their right to justice. She pointed out that for many of these families the suffering and injustice continues, and they need our support.
All present – including those who contributed comments and questions after the talk – agreed that this was a topic that was close to Sheila’s heart, and that she would have been pleased with this well-attended lecture. Do read the book – if you can’t afford to buy it, I can lend you a copy.
Jim.