COMMENTS
1. At 10.20 on 26 November 2009, Dennis Underwood wrote:
Yet another stupid 'Health and Safety.' If she drives, surely a more dangerous thing to do, she would find no problem in obtaining insurance.
2. At 10.50 on 26 November 2009, Ellie wrote:
And the Legion wonders why its membership is dropping. Younger standard bearers are few and far between due to work commitments. To get a standard bearer who is able to get the standard out and about to be seen should surely be a priority. If the bearer is fit and well where is the problem. I do despair of the Legion sometimes with its stiff rules and regs.
3. At 11.18 on 26 November 2009, Bob Thomas wrote:
This is just another act of ageism in this country. If this lady was fit and had no problem with the standard then why remove her. I really don't understand this at all, have they no care for her feelings.
4. At 11.54 on 26 November 2009, David N Campbell wrote:
I always thought that guidelines were there to act as just that guidance for those with intelligence, and not for blind obedience as seems the case here. If the lady in question is both willing and able to obtain her own personal indemnity insurance then she should be allowed to continue for as long as she remains able.
5. At 12.51 on 26 November 2009, The rifleman wrote:
Health and Safety, rubbish. This lady looks good and feels good so Health and Safety rules have nothing to do with this issue. The Legion allowed her to carry the standard last year and nothing was said and she was over the age limit so why, all of a sudden, has this decision been made by the Legion. If she was good enough to carry the Legion's standard last year why can she not do it this year. It's obvious she loves the Legion and is proud of it. I think the Legion's decision is shameful to her and all other members.
6. At 16.25 on 26 November 2009, B. Sweeny wrote:
Health and safety is destroying this country, basic common sense seems to count for nothing nowadays, its all down to the greed culture surrounding us pushed on by greedy lawyers, and insurance companies. It is my belief, that if these laws had been in force during the Blitz on British cities, thousands more people would have died. I remember as a kid, scavenging through a bombed house in Clydebank, to help salvage belongings for the family that had just been bombed out the night before. Nowadays we probably wouldn't be allowed anywhere near it for about a week. Mrs Madge Covey, is a veteran, and as such, providing she is fit and feels capable in herself to keep on carrying the flag then there in no one more appropriate than her (as a veteran) to do the honour.
7. At 17.35 on 26 November 2009, Louise wrote:
Elf & saftey gone mad. Yes, if she's fit and can see where she's going, and has the physical capability to carry the Standard, then she should be allowed to continue for as long as she feels able.
I'm amazed at the decision of Somerset RBL.
8. At 17.50 on 26 November 2009, A disappointed member wrote:
Why is the legion taking this stance? If the lady wishes and is able to carry the standard then let her. i am a branch secretary and poppy collector it is about time that the legion remembers that it is the men and women who are members keep the legion going.
9. At 17.34 on 26 November 2009, Roger wrote:
Unfortunately, there has always been a restriction on Legion Standard Bearers' ages. It used to be 80, so this lady has had an extension. These rules are made for the protection of the person concerned, as well as the public. I commend her for her spirit, but surely it is time to sit back and watch someone else having a go. Try your local cadets- they are usually very keen and do a very good job, e.g. the current National Youth Standard Bearer. I retired from standard bearing five years ago at 59 due to arthritis, and quite understand how she feels. It is very frustrating.
10. At 17.50 on 26 November 2009, David McGowan wrote:
This isn't a Health & Safety issue, it's the Insurance company. Young male car drivers under the age of 25 pay very high car insurance premiums, why?
because statistically they have lots of accidents. Elderly people are more likely to suffer from falls, it's not "ageism" it a statistic A better way to approach this would be for the Legion to reduce the risk by making the standard lighter, replacing the brass top with a lighter alloy and asking a Doctor to assess this lady's health and then submit this to the insurance company and accept a higher excess on the liability policy.
Far from ruining this country H&S has saved thousands of lives over the years. Besides in a day and age where people like to sue at the drop of a hat it's probably better to be careful, after all the RBL's money is better spent on the people who need it not costly court cases!
11. At 12.05 on 27 November 2009, Michael Watson wrote:
Re: 26 November 2009, David McGowan. David has spoken an awful lot of sense. However I, like many, feel that the way H&S rules have been applied to some really silly things have served to undermine the original intentions of it's introduction which was to keep us safe at work and play. There really is far to much control over the way we run our lives. H&S is just another one. Ordinary people can't be trusted to look after themselves anymore. The authorities know best...they have a god given right to BE right. Well so they think anyway.
12. At 15.41 on 27 November 2009, Xsniper wrote:
What a Disgrace! More like age discrimination to me!
The mind boggles these people come forward to offer their services. For what ...... Shame on them who condem without trial !
13. At 23.13 on 27 November 2009, Graham Walter wrote:
West Linton Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland. Our Standard Bearer has just retired at the age of 93 years young and that was his decision not the branches.
14. At 08.25 on 29 November 2009, Mike Nott's wrote:
It is a shame for this lady but sometimes we have to move on and let others have a go. Would she be able to recover from tripping up in a crowded church. God forbid that she may injure someone but if she did I'm sure she would have wished she had stood down.
15. At 11.34 on 1 December 2009, David Carnall wrote:
She should be allowed to carry as long as she feels she can. I have carried our branch standard for 25+years and intend to until I cannot carry on, then it's time to pass it on to a younger person.
16. At 19.21 on 1 December 2009, Roger wrote:
Once again, most of your correspondents have missed the point. Would they be surprised if this lady was refused insurance for paragliding at her age? I doubt it. I wonder how many of them have actually looked at the RBL's insurance- the 85-age limit also applies to Poppy collectors as well. What would happen if a collector aged 87 was mugged for her tin- no insurance cover. Why should any other member be exempt because they feel like it? These rules are not imposed by the RBL, but we all have to accept nasty bits on insurance, the excess on your car insurance for example.
17. At 13.43 on 10 December 2009, Sweeny wrote:
Your headline reads, 'Is age just a number,' it's a saying that trips off the lips of a lot of people, mostly fit people, but age has nothing to do with fitness. You will find, and probably know, people in their 70s and 80s and over, are a lot fitter and have more go than people half their age. Health has more to do with what actions a person can carry out than age.
Time to get real RBL, show some support for the veterans you are supposed to represent, insurance companies putting these restrictions on veterans are unpatriotic parasites, no better than the greedy bankers, is this the kind of country we fought for?
