Fordy on a Friday - Graham Ford's Blog...
June 2010
25 June 2010 - Email: fordy@hawickonline.co.uk
I was slightly concerned today when I read the Hawick News.
Two popular events within the Hawick Calendar currently appear to have question marks over them. Local Councillor Davie Paterson has raised doubts over the future of the Hawick Highland Games, after what he felt was a disappointing turn out to the annual event that was held at a sun-baked Mansfield Park last Sunday.
Meanwhile the future of the monthly Farmers has also been thrown into question with a debate currently taking place to decide if the licence for the civic space event will be renewed.
Some people often ask if Hawick suffers from apathy. At times I would tend to agree with that! A lot of people expect things to happen, and when they don't, or don't live up to expectation, they complain. But how many people are prepared to put their head above the parapet and take the pelters from the critics? Sometimes it is also a nightmare trying to schedule events to avoid clashing with others. But none of the apathy would ever stop me helping organize things, because when something is done right, the Hawick people really do show their support. I always feel there is a danger of 'aye been' or basically just doing things that have been done previously to make life easy. But going the extra mile. Freshening an event up. Or doing some market research amongst the punters, finding out what works and what doesn't.
Hawick Summer Festival has added no fewer than six different events to the programme for this year, while band line up for Party on the Pitch has also been shuffled to ensure that different bands enjoy their moment in the spotlight. Tickets for the Party on the Pitch event are now on sale - online - at a reduced price. You can buy your tickets using Pay-pal for just £6, delivered to your door, or wait to pay at the gate on the day and pay £8. Paying early means you will also get a wrist band (just like T in the Park) and you will be able to walk straight past the waiting queue. The reason for the change is of course to try to make the customer experience better and ensure people are not waiting 15-20 minutes in a queue.
Looking at the Highland Games event, I notice the Mansfield Park date clashed with the 49th Jimmie Guthrie Memorial Run which attracted crowd to Denholm Green. This was one of a number of events taking place (including Car Boot Sales) on the same day. People simply don't have the time or the money to attend everything, and sadly some events suffer.
While the Farmer's Market being held on a Friday at a time when many people are working may also be a major factor in the lower than expected sales and crowds.
I sincerely hope that neither of these events fall from the Hawick Calendar, and I also hope that Teries continue to lend as much support as possible to the numerous events on offer throughout the year.
18 June 2010 - Email: fordy@hawickonline.co.uk
WELL I have enjoyed a week's holiday from my blog due to recent Common-Riding celebrations. And what a celebration it was. The weather proved kind, and I have to congratulate the Big Eight on a job really well done.
Last night the panto group were back in rehearsals for the forthcoming show THATS ENTERTAINMENT, it is weird rehearsing in beautiful sunshine. Usually we are shivering our way through November ahead of the Christmas show. The exciting thing about this show is that several of our former group members have returned and it is so nice to see so many great people again. The tickets for this show will go on sale from next week. Watch out for full details on this website.
So how does your glass sit? Half full or half empty. Are you ready to praise or criticize? I love switching on Facebook and reading all the comments from loads of people. But what is it with all the whinging? Why not tell us all something nice, something positive instead of sharing your woes.
And speaking of girns, what has been going on since last Saturday.....what happened last Saturday- apart from Hawick Common-Riding- and of course Scotland beating Argentina at rugby. Oh yes THAT football game involving England, the only game and it seems the only team in the World Cup. It was inevitable of course, when it was clear that England were the only Home Nations side to qualify for the South Africa showcase event, you knew the broadcasters were going to unleash the dragon. Every single football match at the tournament always leads to some comments about England, and more often than not a mention of 1966. Sometimes the teams are not even out the tunnel before the comments are shoe-horned in. There has been quite a lot of uproar regarding the noise coming from the vuvazelas but in my opinion if their noise can drown out the drone of these boring commentators, I feel they should hand out more of the quirky instruments.
Speaking of music did you catch my radio show on Wednesday night, my special guest at TD1 Radio was none other than Chappy from Scocha. What a great two hours we had, and what a great selection of tunes from one of the founder members of the Hawick super-group. If you haven't listened into my show yet, its on every Wednesday night from 8-10pm log on to www.td1radio.co.uk
Catch you next week.
3 June 2010 - Email: fordy@hawickonline.co.uk
The loss of over 150 jobs from the iconic Peter Scott Knitwear Factory in the town is yet another blow for our already fragile town's economy. But throughout last weekend as the news emerged I couldn't contain my anger.
While honest hard working Teries were left shocked and uncertain about their future, we were witness to yet another MP caught with his nose in the greedy trough. High profile Treasury Secretary David Laws was caught channeling ten of thousands of pounds of public money towards his 'partner'. The cock and bull story that later emerged regarding wanting to keep his lifestyle secret doesn't wash with me. Coming just months after the string of expenses scandals you can't help wonder what the role of an MP is? I would have thought it would be to serve the public, sadly it seems more and more obvious that its about self-service.
Just as Laws quit his post, a series of shuffles saw local MP Michael Moore promoted to the role of Secretary of State for Scotland. But on hearing this announcement I was once again left thinking if Moore was more concerned about his career prospects that those of the the Peter Scott employees, who have become another chapter in the Hawick book of job losses.
Instead of trying to feather his own nest, Moore should have been beating a path to the office door of Ken Pasternak, the Pesco's MD. The rumours that had been circling for months surely must have been heard by our local MP and our local councillors. They should have been in at the sharp end negotiating the situation. But I guess Moore was to busy singing the praises of his Lib Dem colleague, the one who has dishonestly been fiddling his expenses. I would have thought a lot more of the guy if he had announced he would take up the post, but his immediate priority was to fight for Hawick jobs. To fight for the future of the voters who elected him to his lofty position just a few weeks ago.
Another thing that really sticks in my throat about this job loss announcement is the timing. Did the people in charge at the Buccleuch Street factory deliberately time the revelation just ahead of Hawick's biggest event of the year? Were they happy to place a dark cloud over so many people's celebrations? Poor workers who were so looking forward to celebrating will now be left watching their pennies, children perhaps missing out on their visit to the shows, or given less money to spend at the Moor.
Over the last decade or more the fabric of Hawick life has slowly but surely been stripped away. And I for one believe it is time for ordinary Hawick citizens to stand up and say enough is enough. Are we getting a fair crack of the whip from Scottish Borders Council? Are our Councillors shouting as loud as Galashiels Councillors? Its all very well giving out the usual sympathy sound bites when job losses are announced, but we need more, much more. Too many jobs are leaving Hawick. Too many people are leaving Hawick, the exodus must stop.
Other knitwear workers around the town will now be looking over their shoulders yet again, fearing for their future. Other companies will be able to hide behind the - cheap foreign imports- excuse. As more jobs are shed. We now need local councillors, elected MSP's and MP's to stand up and be counted. I feel it is time for a public meeting to highlight this situation. Anyone in agreement? I look forward to responses.