Dear Bill,
Thank you for your response.
By the way, I was never a Traction Inspector. Are you mixing me up with someone else?.
I suspect I must be. Apologies in that case.
My comments are purely based upon your arrogant stance and looking down on anyone who disagrees with you. You don't seem able to communicate without pushing your own politcal leaning.
Note, that I have not stated my own political leaning when exchanging views on here, although it may well be obvious and certainly not of your own politcal persuasion. However, I have said on here that I would never tell someone else how to voter and that they must make up their own minds, not be persuaded by someone like yourself, who can't move outside your own political box..........My grumble is purely about your annoying insistance of pushing your political views on everyone in the Forum and the image you give of yourelf of looking down on everyone. If that isn't the case, then as I mentioned previoudly, perhaps you need to change your avatar!
Now just cool down and try accepting that my main beef with you is your constantly pushing your political leaning on everyone here and appearing to look down on everyone. As I said previously, if we are getting the wrong message I would suggest that you ease off the political broadcasts on behalf of your preferred party and change your avatar.
Thank you.
I am sorry that my words are being taken in the manner you have explained.
This was/is not my intention.
In posting I seek only to try to stop the varying myths that have been perpetuated over the years, especially those which are untrue. We do seem to suffer from people who will come on here to give vent to their anti-Conservative invective through the medium of the Railways. Were there to have been some truth in that then that could be justified. Where there is blatantly no evidence to back up their assertions then this is where I take exception.
I believe genuinely that this Forum has the ability to become a location where people can come to learn and obtain factual information and learning. That is why I joined....to give back to the community some of the knowledge and experience I have gained over the years.
For this Forum to become respect in that manner however, it is necessary that obvious untruths be challenged or they ultimately become "established history" when repeated often enough. This is a tactic that has been used in propoganda for many years and certain sections of the Political world are very adept at its use. A further method is the use of halkf-truths and the distortion of facts just enough to "infer" something different.
It is this hijacking of Our (your and my) Industry's history that I object to. Inevitably this will lead me into conflict with those who believe that they are beyond reproach and I am lackey. Dogma and facts do not make good bedfellows.
If my posts come across in a barracking or arrogant manner then then is not what is being intended. That could well be down to way I use words, and phrases. It could also be due to the nature of my job where I have to be direct and clear. Notwithstanding, I thank you for the explanation, and I will endeavour to look at how I phrase and write in the future. Your other points are noted and I will consider how to address them.
In an earlier post I wrote that I was sorry that Railways have become a Politicised subject. Unfortunately whilst ever they receive a single penny from the Treasury then that will be the case. I cannot promise not to defend when I believe or know something to be true.
One of the ironies of the various attacks on me is that those people do not know me and make grand but inaccurate assumptions about me. They have no inkling for example of my respect and liking for such people as the late Gwyneth Dunwoody, with whom I have had the pleasure to meet with, and talk to about a number of issues. I found her an honourable and genuine Politician and one for whom I had enormous respect. I was privileged to meet her, many were not. I can honestly say however that had she been my MP I would have voted for her.
Her untimely death was a great blow personally as well as for the Railway in general. I believe that it also saw the passing of one of the few remainders of what I would call the true Labour Party, rather than the concoction of public school educated and privileged youths who use it as a means to personal agrandishment rather than as the means by which those less well off are represented.
There are other members of Labour for whom I have admiration and respect, such as Frank Field, although in some ways my beliefs differ.
The phrase "Tory" has been bandied around by those who see it as a means of abuse. Unfortunately my beliefs do not fall into any one particular basket at all. On some occasions I am to be found helping those who are being disciplined by management, the last couple of weeks I have been trying very hard to assist a number of former Jarvis people find alternative employment following the disgraceful and vindictive manner in which that Company was treated.
.....What utter arrogance and insult to suggest that I got my job by "Working the Union ticket" In 1974 I voluntarily moved under the correct procedures and got into a depot 60 miles from my home base to get my driving job. .
Bill, I am truly deeply shocked that you took my words in that way. They were certainly NEVER meant in that fashion. That would have been a form of personal insult which I would not wish to step towards. My comments were aimed at the people who used their Trade Union activities (LDC/Branch) etc to climb the slippery ladder. It was not meant in any other way.
.....I always wore my uniform, pressed my own trousers and polished my boots. I always drove my trains smartly through sections and never hung around, except when due to signalling and other problems. I never liked working overtime and only worked compulsory overtime. Likewise, I only worked my booked Sundays and no others unless it was as a favour to the TCI, which I did many times over the years. So why are you lumping me in with those that you mentioned in your comments? I know of them but certainly don't associate myself with that mindset. I felt just as much disgust with them as you show in your comments..
I would not lump you in with those people in any way. I meant no slight upon you and I wish to make that clear. My own (maybe limited experience) has shown me that you can generally base an opinion on a man's attitude and approach in how he dresses and his own deprtment. A Signalman who was sloppy in dress and housekeeping was without exception sloppy and poor in their duties.
As I said earlier I appreciate your latest post, my assumption as to your id was based upon my belief that you were someone else. The manner of your posting tended towards suggesting that was the case. For any offense or upset, I unreservedly apologise.
