Harbinger - Tilebury Newsletter

Tilebury Harbinger

Tilebury's village newsletter.

Editorial

Editor: F Lennier. BA (hons) (Mrs)

1 July

Know the danger of the gifts you are offered

Mrs Corkerham and Miss Doreen Davies have provided a manifesto for their election as Trustees. I think it is pretty clear about what they want to do. No more free speech. No more brave opinions. Instead we have promises of knitting circle news and morally vetted commentary on matters of which those ladies approve. That frightens me more than snakes, or even millipedes on the loose. Because that means you have to listen only to what they want you to hear and know and we give over to them the decision of what is right and what is interesting.

I promise not to engage in such censorship. I have not done so and I am proud of my achievements. The letterbox is, it is fair to say, full of complaints. But that is how it should be. A fearless newspaper necessarily ruffles feathers. Real news (and for that matter entertainment) is not possible without prodding the behinds of a few holy cows.

So, if I keep the editorship of the Harbinger I shall continue the current policy. Free rein to all opinions and promises to publish even the criticisms. Especially the criticisms. We will err but, I understand my horoscope confirms that I am the type of woman who will be strong and brave and proceed despite the puissant blows and polished words which may be hurled at me.

I ask the contributors to back me and vote in favour of freedom and independence. To vote in favour of an interesting newspaper which tries to cater for all. But also I ask the villagers and readers of this paper to back me and to let the contributors (who will vote) their views.

This newspaper is well funded and will continue to drop through your letterboxes. Do you want to receive something you can read but which may occasionally disturb your (or your neighbours) calm or do you want to give Miss Doreen Davies a platform in your living room to lecture you on what you should and should not be doing?

Up to you. I shall fight the good fight at the meeting later this month.

Letters to the Editor

Letters from readers dealing with current village issues here.

Poetess's Pantry

Beautiful words and beautiful thoughts

Kirsten Krone-Wilson

Another humorous commentary on village affairs in lyric.

Countryfile

A countrywoman's guide to England's Nature - Mushrooms

Camilla Corkerham

Mrs Corkerham announces that she will be moving on to things she knows more about if she wins the election this month and proves her point by telling us about mushrooms.

Tilebury Newspaper Trust

Trust documents and records

Fran Lennier (Trustee Chair as Editor)

We have added a manifesto from Miss Doreen Davies and Mrs Corkerham to the Trust's legal documents.

Agony Aunt

Solving your personal Problems

Aunt Ali gives sage counsel to the troubled.

Aunt Alia advises an ungrateful lonely heart at the corner of a love triangle and a lawyer who has been given bad information by her client.

Handy tips from Tilebury's Handywoman

You can do it - laying grass seed

Kimberley King (No job too easy - quick, sympathetic and effective maintenance and repairs)

Kim gets back together with her regular client and tells us how to touch up a grass lawn so you have somewhere to eat your ice lolly.

Events Diary

Forthcoming Events and Recent Festivities

Fiona Davies

We hear about all sorts of love-shapes including certain high profile individuals who seem to be conducting a number of liaisons at the same time and keeping various ladies in the dark about how they stand. There are also some exhortations about the forthcoming Trust vote.

a scene redolent with historical meaning

Village History

Our Inheritance from our Ancestors - Infestation

Dr Harriet Longstepp

As snakes are increasingly seen in the village, we learn that there is nothing new in history and a previous plague of vermin (millipedes!) is recorded as having been solved by an enterprising village woman with a burning torch.