Today is the 63rd anniversary of the award of the George Cross to the people of Malta in recognition of their bravery in the face of consistent attacks from the Italian and German forces in World War 2. It was the first time that the award had not been made to an individual. It is hard to imagine how they coped with six months of continuous air raids, living underground for long periods in caverns they had cut from the limestone themselves and surviving on very meagre rations. How would you cope with that?
You may not be aware that the aerial defence of Malta was initially led solely by just three aged Gloster Gladiator biplane aircraft – no Spitfires or Hurricanes here – that were nicknamed Faith, Hope and Charity. The bravery and determination of their pilots and ground crew resulted in the attackers losing several aircraft and consequently believing that the island had substantial airborne defences. As a result, there was no marine invasion of the island, which surely would have been successful and would undoubtedly have changed the course of the war in the Mediterranean.
Category: current affairs
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Heroics
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Hmmm
Labour -8 
Conservative -9 
Liberal Democrat 17UK Independence Party -9 Green -4 You should vote: Liberal Democrat.
Take the test at Who Should You Vote For?Hmmm. But I don’t agree with PR, which is a bit of a sticking point with the LibDems for me.
link via Steve. -
Spoilt rotten
Gordon gives a thoughtful discussion of the Spoil Your Vote campaign. I strongly feel that we should have a system in this country that is similar to that in Sweden – compulsory voting for all citizens (subject to a fixed financial penalty and combined with the introduction of more accessible secure voting methods) but with the addition of a "none of the above" option. Not that that idea on its own would solve the problem of people spoiling their paper or abstaining through laziness or ignorance. It is, at least in part, the duty of politicians to motivate the public to vote. In some instances, a minimum turnout is required for a vote to become valid – so it is not only the responsibility of the parties to win a majority of the vote but also their responsibility to motivate people into placing their X. Perhaps a combination of obligatory voting to motivate the people and a minimum "turnout" in the form of papers showing a cross against a candidate instead of abstention to motivate the candidates might, when taken together, lead to more meaningful results.
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Doing your own thing
From this week’s Horticulture Week:
A survey of 1,000 adults has found 40 per cent now regard their garden shed as a space where they can do their own thing.The article does not go on to say what "doing your own thing" actually means. Suggestions?
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Sad loss of a horticultural hero
I’m a week late with this, but I’ve only just heard – Alan Bloom, possibly the greatest perennial plants advocate and enthusiast of the 20th century, has died aged 98.
Alan Bloom was a great influence on me as I came into the horticulture industry. I’ve read most of his books, including the excellent Plantsman’s Progress, which covers not only his background in horticulture, but also his relationships with parents and children, touching on Fenland life. His enthusiasm and passion for perennials, illustrated by the way he developed a large perennial-growing nursery at a time when shrubs and low-maintenance gardens were the fashion, as well as his co-founding of the Hardy Plant Society, were rewarded with an MBE as well as the two highest honours in horticulture – the Veitch Memorial Medal and the Victoria Medal of Honour.
He cut a slightly eccentric figure. His hooped earrings and long flowing hair marked him out as slightly different from most (rather staid) horticulturalists. He had a passion for plants matched only by his passion for steam power (he collected many engines for his museum at Bressingham, Norfolk). He was also a Quaker and, judging by his autobiography, something of a rebel who was not afraid to stand up against the "perceived wisdom". He did much to popularise perennials, both through his media appearances and also through his development of the "island bed" technique of displaying them, and it is probably fair to say that I might not be doing what I am doing today if it had not been for his efforts in this field.
There were to be special open days of his Dell Garden at Bressingham Hall this summer for the HPS. Knowing his great age, I had planned to attend in order to meet the great man before he died. Unfortunately, that opportunity is now lost. Instead, a tribute day will be held there on 21 June to celebrate his life in the garden he created, a garden which features some of the 200 or so plants that he bred and developed. Some of those plants are growing at my parents’ nursery, and I’ll be planting one or two in the garden here. -
Falmer factor in election
Brighton stadium plans are a factor in the election in the region. Of course, given Brighton’s recent form, the Withdean might well be big enough for a Conference side. Gah.
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BBC election blog
In case anyone should accuse us of belatedly getting on the weblog bandwagon, we would (proudly) point out that in the 2001 election, this was the site which brought you The Campaign Today, which in due course became Nick Robinson’s Newslog, both of which showed what a useful, immediate and interactive medium this is.Also:
Burning issue of the day:
Q: What swimwear do the party leaders wear?
A: According to the Independent diary, the leaders told the Easyjet in-flight magazine that Mr Blair sports surf-wear, Mr Howard doesn’t know, and Mr Kennedy replied "Speedos, I think." Speedos?Could prove to be informative and amusing. However, other election blogs are available.
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Papal passing
Karol Wojtyla, RIP. What’s the reckoning that the Beeb had the obit ready some time ago?