And The Greatest Of These Is Love

 Very little remains with me from my High School days, which let's face it were sixty long years ago. Sitting in the space beneath the Domestic Science Block teaching an innocent the facts of life, aged eleven. Promotion to the B Stream, aged thirteen.  At fifteen,  being given detention for not knowing my Times Tables, Hightlight of my sixteenth  year? Shocking my teachers by doing well in my O Levels. Lower Sixth, my Folk Group Year. Singing "Blowing in The Wind,” behind Sally Fearn, lead, and only, guitar, for "The Ribbettes" at what must have been our only gig. Winning a cup in Gloucester Regatta at eighteen:small things, of no interest to anyone now, but here recorded for an indifferent posterity.  Enjoy!

Headmistress Hilda Mortimore is no hero of mine. Her focus was on the girls of the professional classes. Working-class girls like me, were consigned to Domestic Science and Secretarial Courses. Our destiny was to work in an Office and marry the boss. I bucked the trend. so much so, that on gaining the necessaries to apply for Teacher Training College, she sent for my parents and told them not to send me, because they would need my wage. Futhermore, I have the distinction of being the only student NOT to gain admission to Rolle College Exeter on her recommendation, because she didn't give me one. 

Am I bitter? Never. Not then, not now. Her unshakeable disbelief in me sent me to Yorkshire, where I made a lifelong friend in Viv Goldman,  - and met my husband. With a loving and supportive family and unshakeable faith in myself, I met my career goal, that of becoming the Headteacher of a Village School (Take a bow, Miss Read) and began the life journey that brings me to exactly where I want to be: the matriarch of an amazing clan. 

I do, however, owe Hilda a debt of gratitude. It was her habit at the beginning of every term to read the same passage from the New Testament. St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter Thirteen. "I may speak with the tongues of men and have angels, but without Love I become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal..."

St Paul knew that love makes the world go round. Amazing to think that the most profound and lasting lesson I learned at High School was written 2,000 years ago and quoted three times a year by the least impressive educator I ever met: 

“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. "

Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], 

Love believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].

Love never fails [it never fades nor ends]. 

But as for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for the gift of special knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part [for our knowledge is fragmentary and incomplete].

10 But when that which is complete and perfect comes. that which is incomplete and partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; but when Ibecame a man, I did away with childish things. 

12 For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God]. 13 And now there remain: faith [abiding trust in God and His promises], hope [confident expectation of eternal salvation], love [unselfish love for others growing out of God's love for me], these three [the choicest graces]; but the greatest of these is love.*

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

Amen 

(*Amplified® Bible Copyright © 2015 by

The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631)

Letter to Matt Bishop MP

Monday 27 January 2025

Dear Matt Bishop,

My son in law , aged 44, worked in the tech industry before suffering a massive stroke that left him paralysed down one side, and unable to speak.. He works within his capacity, but still requires benefits. I’m deeply shocked at Rachel Reeves distinguishing him from “ordinary” people in receipt of social security because he is disabled. 

His humanity, and that of all of us, I suspect,  is now reduced in your governments view, to his/our capacity to work. This despite the fact that full employment is not the aim of a capitalist economy, as you know, but THAT was an issue addressed in my last letter to you, (August 2024) to which I received no reply. 

It’s scandalous that instead of prioritising support for the disadvantaged and vulnerable, this government is doubling down on the austerity policies that has I/5 of the people of the U.K. living in poverty, and has resulted in more than 330,000 unnecessary deaths. More to come, I suspect.

 

Poverty levels within the Forest of Dean are high, and I’m inviting you to lobby Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer on the behalf of the poeple of the Forest of Dean, and everyone like my son-law, being driven deeper and deeper into anxiety and depression by what can best be described as Labour’s, “ War on The Poor.” 

It ought to be a Labour Goverment’s priority to rebalance the economy (through taxation if that’s the only means it thinks it has) in the interests of ALL its citizens, not just the top 20%.

If Labour doesn’t change tack, yours will be a one-term legislature, and deservedly so,m.

 

Below are links to both the Philip Alston’s 2018 UN Commission Report on Human Rights on poverty in the UK ( with a summary) and the Lord’s Report on deaths caused by austerity. It is to the shame of all politicians that nothing has been, or is being done, to address the findings of either report. Are 330,000 deaths, not enough? 

OCHR Report:

https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/Poverty/EOM_GB_16Nov2018.pdf

Summary:

The report is a statement by Professor Philip Alston, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, following his visit to the United Kingdom in November 2018. 

Alston highlights the dramatic rise in poverty and destitution in the UK, affecting 14 million people, including 4 million who are more than 50% below the poverty line and 1.5 million who are destitute.

He criticises the UK government's austerity measures and social security policies, which he argues have led to social calamity and economic disaster, especially impacting children, single mothers, people with disabilities, and the working poor.

Alston also points out the government's denial of the severity of the situation and the resistance to change despite evidence and recommendations from various sources. 

House of Lords Report on Austerity/Related Deaths;,

https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/mortality-rates-among-men-and-women-impact-of-austerity/

And here is House of Commons Data are poverty figures for the Forest of Dean: 

The Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, UK has high rates of poverty, especially among children.

Poverty rates for children:
In 2020, 14% of children in the Forest of Dean lived in poverty
In 2023, a fifth of children in the Forest of Dean lived in relative poverty

Poverty rates for households
In 2021, the most deprived areas in the Forest of Dean were Cinderford, Coleford, and Mitcheldean, Drybrook, and Ruardean
In 2022, one in seven households in the Forest of Dean were in fuel poverty

Factors contributing to poverty

Income deprivation

Employment deprivation

Health deprivation

Disability

You were elected to the House of Commons to represent working people. Let’s see some evidence that you take these issues seriously. Let’s see a more urgent response than “waiting for growth,” we’ve been waiting 40 years for Reeves’ neoliberal economic model to bear fruit for working people. 

Never materialised. 

Time’s up. 

Yours sincerely,

Mary Francis 

Row,Row,Row Your Boat …

11:39 Dec 10m (Tues) 2024

The seat under me is a smooth granite slab on it is witten the motto, “Go out there and now faster.” I quite like the idea, but "faster isn’t  my thing these days. 

I was eighteen, when following  two years of somewhat haphazard training, I rowed bow for ‘Gloucester Ladies in

the final of the "Ladies Coxed Four” event. History  records that I rowed in the victorious team. There is even a photo in the Gloucester Jounal (July 1969) of me, oar aloft, celebrating.

History Lies.

We were second. We lost by a canvass. 

The guys, annoyed that the Captain of Gloucester Ladies had rowed for Stourport, (the actual winners) sent the photo-journalist in our direction, and, mea culpa,  nobody asked any questions. 

Dear Matt Bishop

Dear Matt Bishop,

Congratulations on your election as my MP. 

In

I am writing to express my deepest disappointment in the Chancellor’s economically illiterate decision to subject the economy to unnecessary fiscal rules, and to compound the error by threatening cuts that will inevitably impoverish those already struggling: pensioners, families with children, and people in receipt of social security benefits. This is Osborne economics, not social democracy, and will inevitably lead to further hardship amongst your constituents. 

Unsurprisingly, the cabinet are blocking the publication of data on the effect of austerity, but fortunately there is data already in the public domain collected by the Hiuse of Lords. 

https://lordslibrary.parliament.uk/mortality-rates-among-men-and-women-impact-of-austerity/

There have been over 300,000 excess deaths since 2009 as a direct result of a deliberate choice by the Tory government  to impose austerity. It is scandalous that a Labour Government, with access to a fiat currency, and therefore the freedom to finance any choices it decides to make, should continue along this path: a government killing its own citizens. 

Was an impact assessment done on the changes to the Winter Fuel Payment? Will there one be done on the proposed cuts in the October budget?

Might your constituents at least expect that you will monitor these impacts in the Forest of Dean? 

Yours sincerely,

Mary Francis 

Former Chair 

Newent Branch of The Labour Party