October 26: Help needed to save the 'Amateurs'
May I take advantage to express my sincere thanks to the loyal supporters of Northampton Amateur Operatic Company (NOAC) who attended their recent production of Cole Porter's Anything Goes.
The show was a great success and to quote from a recently received letter "the show was a resounding success, the acting, singing, costumes and lighting were all of a professional level". I have read again letters of praise in the Chron.
Anything Goes was a hit in all areas except one: Our ticket sales were well down on previous years, and because of this the future of NAOC now seems in doubt.
The company have been a part of Northampton for 110 years, and for many years "Amateurs" week was one of the highlights of the year and its demise would I feel be a "further nail in the coffin" as far as Northampton is concerned.
When the company first moved to Derngate in 1983, we, along with other amateur companies using the theatre, received certain benefits from the then governing body.
When this changed, we became self-funding and receive no outside financial assistance at all. We can only recoup our considerable outgoings by ticket sales, sponsorship, a small team of vice-presidents and our own internal fundraising.
We always aim to give good value. One of our patrons said to me on leaving the theatre "I've paid twice as much to see a show in London and not enjoyed it half as much." The company have excellent rehearsal facilities at Wardington Court, headquarters of Northamptonshire Association for the Blind, and the company seek in some small way to contribute to their already stretched finance. Again we would wish this long association to continue.
NAOC have a committed strong committee who will do their utmost to ensure that the "Amateurs" are a part of Northampton for many years to come.
It would be tragic if the company had to fold but Anything Goes played to many empty seats.
Thank you again to our audience. Please continue to support us. We need you to help us to continue this wonderful company.
Cliff Billing,
President,
Northampton Amateur Operatic Company.
It's democracy but it's flawed
IN response to Harry Tuttle's letter, asking whether we live in a democratic country, I would suggest that it is a very flawed democracy. Although every British citizen has a vote (with a few exceptions), the political system of “first-past-the-post”, coupled with the iniquitous “West Lothian problem”, meant that although England voted overwhelmingly for the Tories at the last election, because of Scottish and Welsh voters we were landed with a Labour Government again.
This is particularly undemocratic as English voters do not have their own parliament, unlike the Scots and Welsh, and English MPs are not allowed to vote in the devolved parliaments.
We also have a Prime Minister whom nobody has voted for (not even his own MPs as he was the only candidate) and a deputy (in all but name) of Peter Mandelson, who is not even an elected MP!
Although a system of proportional representation would appear to be fairer, it also has inherent problems, with minority parties often holding the balance of power, and important decisions being unresolved by endless committees.
I would add that at a previous General Election Labour gained power with less than a quarter of the country actively voting for them. This is why more effort must be made to engage with voters in the country.
J Howell,
Mill Lane, East Haddon.
Listen to workers
I AM sick of hearing from Royal Mail directors who get a great deal of money.
The postmen, counter staff, letter sorters and drivers are having their conditions changed all the time.
This just is not fair so I am glad they are showing that they are not going to put up with management all the time.
Directors should listen to their workers at ground level.
Best of luck to the workers and the union.
Jean W Lineker,
Ex-Shop Steward for USDAW, Drywell Court, Standen Barn,
Northampton.
We support you
The Northampton Trades Union Council recognises the need to stand shoulder to shoulder with trade unionists who are defending their jobs, protesting against unreasonable demands made by bullying managers and increased casualisation of the workforce, all at the expense of the quality of service Royal Mail’s customers have every reason to expect.
The NTUC also supports Early Day Motion 2035, endorsed by about 100 MPs, which calls for talks between the two parties based on the CWU’s proposals and the intervention of ACAS to broker an agreement.
Ron Mendel,
President,
Northampton Trades Union Council.
Why tenant talks have failed
I FEEL I must write in response to the council tenant participation issue.
Councillor Beardsworth is correct when she states the N-TACT consultation group did not work.
The present council did all they could to help us, with plenty of patience and give and take but to no avail.
Certain members of N-TACT had issue problems with the running of the council and voiced their problems within N-TACT meetings.
Our chairwoman Ms Beverley Mennell did all she could to keep order, however it was a lost cause.
These people, not the council, have ruined tenant participation in Northampton.
This council has in all fairness attempted, though not always successfully, to work with and help the tenants.
We will now and again disagree but we can do so in an amicable way.
Can I urge the council to continue to endeavour to do its best for our tenants.
Mr M J Baker,
Windyridge, Kingsthorpe,
Northampton.
Landmark gone
HOW many readers have noticed the disappearance of another prominent Northampton landmark?
I refer to the late Halfway House pub in Kingsthorpe Hollow.
This closed a few weeks ago, as did the White Horse at the Cock junction.
I wonder why we need planning permission to add a small extension to a very ordinary domestic residence but we can wipe out a landmark in a matter of hours?
I presume that the lost pub was so named because it is half way between the town centre and Kingsthorpe village on the former tram route.
Perhaps someone can tell us more.
Alan Teulon MBE,
Clarence Avenue,
Northampton.
Bridges needed
I really don’t understand why more footbridges are not erected when planning new estates, eg Grange Park.
It seems obvious that children will meet new friends and will want to visit them.
This is such a tragic loss of life.
Dawn Brown,
Wakes Meadow,
Northampton.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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