What, no safety case?
This days it would seem that riding a horse [is] a 'severe' health and safety risk.Now from first hand expirence I can tell you that riding a horse is bl**dy risky judging by the number of times that Mrs FM & the nippers seem to come crashing off them, but if donkey wholloping is your thing, go & enjoy. Just remember to be sure to have some cash on you for the taxi home from the hospital because I’m not coming to pick you up. Done that too many times over the years.
However, in Nu Labour’s cotton wool Britain, dispiles of Yellowjacket, the God of Health & Safety look to have succeded where His Majesty’s excisemen failed…
For the past 44-years, villagers in Dymchurch, Kent, have celebrated the character of Dr Syn, a quiet village vicar by day and a smuggler hero by night, who was created by local author Russell Thorndike.
Dr Syn galloped through seven novels, donning a scarecrow disguise to avoid excisemen and soldiers as he and his desperate band of night riders bought food and drink to starving villagers.
On the second August bank holiday of every other year, a resident of Dymchurch has dressed as Dr Syn to gallop along a nearby beach and ride through the streets for a Day of Syn celebrating the hero. However, this year, his exploits were curtailed after insurers decided it was too dangerous, leaving Dr Syn instead forced to walk.
Whilst I might rile against this country’s Tyranny of Lawyers, the Cult of Health & Safety is prehaps even more corrosive. As I sit here planning The Glorious Day, at an idealological level, the only question that remains unresloved in my alcohol ravaged mind is who do we execute first?
The inhabitants of the Westminster Village?
The entire legal profession?
Or all employees of the Health & Safety Executive?
Comments
I read the books as a kid. Happy days.
Posted by: bill | September 4, 2008 6:21 AM
Why the choice, why not all of them?
Posted by: TimC | September 4, 2008 8:48 AM
The distaff side of the family come from that part of Kent. While they are not Marsh Folk themselves I've met enough of the breed to have thought they would treat any official pronouncement like that with the contempt it deserves.
If even the natives of the Romney Marsh have become cowed by officialdom, then it is very clearly time for The Glorious Day.
As to the priority list; surely in the spirit of liberty one should leave it up to each locality to decide who gets chopped first, so long as they all get chopped eventually.
Posted by: The Remittance Man | September 4, 2008 9:21 AM