1 August, 1993


Letters,
The Editor
Dorset Evening Echo
57, St Thomas Street
Weymouth
Dorset


Dear Sir,

Pondering, as I do on local affairs-the Vicar and the local cricket team Captains` wife not withstanding-I have noticed lately that Weymouth has great potential in the Tourism department. Mr Harvey Bailey, that paragon of the Pavilion set should be congratulated, nay Canonised for his vigorous efforts in bringing the blinkered-if not tunnel visioned-town of Weymouth kicking a screaming into the Twenty First Century.

It is gratifying to note that two of Weymouths` greatest tourist attractions are thematically conceived around disasters e.g.; The Time Walk, Brewers Quay around the `Great Plague` (14th Century) and the Diving Museum, Custom House Quay, around the sinking of the good ship Titanic (April 14th, 1912).

May I suggest to Mr Bailey another disaster linked site as yet to reach it`s full potential, the car park behind that busy hive of commerce, the Colwell Centre. Whilst being wheeled around the metropolis by my young nurse in my custom built bath-chair after a long-awaited visit to my Wine Merchant, I happened upon this marvel of Deconstructionist`s Art quite by accident. Then it occurred to me. What better way to publicise this particular area than remove all the horseless carriages therein parked, and replace them with a small visitors centre extolling the virtues of that great period in our history that drew so many people together. May I suggest the title `Weymouth at War 1943-1993: A Reconstruction of a Typical Bombsite` to be most apposite...

Then, my mind, as alert as always, began working on the merchandising possibilities; sweet rock models of Barnes Wallis`s `Bouncing Bomb` with the proud name of Weymouth imprinted all the way through; minuture chocolate Whitehead torpedoes for the ankle-biters to chew on; bookmarks made of authentic R.A.F. leather flying jackets; plastic V.C. Medals...if you think about it the possibilities are endless...

I am prepared to offer my services as Historical Advisor to this major project for a small renumeration and hope that my idea finds a home in the town that so richly deserves it.

Yours Sincerely

GENERAL P.M. HAMPTON Esq. (Rtd.) etc, etc.


Popular posts from this blog

28 February, 1994 The Editor, Dorset Evening Echo 57, St Thomas Street Weymouth Dorset Dear Sir, After reading your article `Chip, chip, Hooray` in the Echo of February 28th I thought I would write and argue against your seemingly concrete assertion that there are no records existent of fish and chip shops in the Andes 7,000 years ago. In my younger days I explored the most exotic areas of this extraordinary planet of ours and one day found myself in the silent city of Sacsayhuaman, Bolivia. After pootling around, slipping postcards between the giant stones that make up this fascinating place, I must have touched a hidden latch and a small square stone slid out of the wall and a secret compartment was there revealed. Within the compartment four stone tablets lay, covered in cobwebs and du
Read more
WELCOME TO LITTLE PIDDLE... I would like to introduce you to a friend of mine that came to my attention when he began writing letters to the local and National Press. The General, recently retired from the Army, lives in Hampton Hall, Little Piddle, Dorset with his Nurse Inga and Housekeeper Helga from Trondheim and his faithful 'stage struck'  Doberman hound companion. He began his correspondence with the Press a few years ago wanting to express his views on 'the ways of the world' as he would so truly express it... He has given me exclusive permission to publish his 'Letters' here and also highlight events and people who live in this quaint village in the wilds of Dorset.. Expect the Unexpected...
Read more
Image
Now...some  Culture from the fine Dorset village of Little Piddle: Piddle Pride (A Poem)     We Piddle Men are standing proud,     We say again, and say out loud!     We Piddle Men are proud to say;     `We Piddle, Piddle every day!`     Oh, Piddle River that proudly flows     from far upstream,     to where - God knows!     To Piddle we are proud to do,     and make our Piddle plain to view,     But how we shake and how we tremble,     when we think of `Number Two*!`     Cuthbert Clinch (1850-1935)     Village Poet and Undertaker *Number Two: A derogatory term that the villagers have for the growing city of Big Piddle that is slowly encroaching on them from the North. Famous Inventors from Little Piddle Fred Clavicle (1850-1910) inventor of steam driven false teeth. Julius F. Hozhalf inventor invisible writing paper. Henry Alexander Follen, Originator of the `Follen Theory of Male Pattern Hair Loss` (who`s first and only rule states `It just lets
Read more