Comments on: Bournemouth East

By: Tim Jones

Tim Jones — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 13:17:09 +0000

Thanks for the info Hemelig

I remember being shocked by Clark’s prominent role in demonstations against the export of live cattle from Shoreham to France in the mid 90s

He was quiterefreshingly accepting of the charge that he cared more for animal welfare than that for some humans

By: H.Hemmelig

H.Hemmelig — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:57:46 +0000

Clark was radically pro-animal rights, but a bit convoluted on hunting.

He refused to allow it on his land, and made many disparaging remarks about it in his diaries, yet (I think quite rightly) he saw factory farming and fur as a much greater evil than fox hunting or shooting.

As a country squire he would also have known that if they weren’t hunted, many more country foxes would be killed by shooting and baiting.

As well as political expediency, this may explain his confused position.

By: Tim Jones

Tim Jones — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:39:48 +0000

David Atkinson was one of the very few Tory opponents of fox hunting (as were Ann Widdecombe and Philip Oppenheim).

You can add the right wingers David Ames, Roger Gale, Sir Teddy Taylor and Alan Clarke to that list too althoigh Clarke was all too happy to discard that belief when trying to secure the nomination for the Kensington & Chelsea seat – one of the few seats in which supporting a repeal would have no damaging effect whatsoewver you’d think

By: H.Hemmelig

H.Hemmelig — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:41:07 +0000

David Atkinson was one of the very few Tory opponents of fox hunting (as were Ann Widdecombe and Philip Oppenheim).

By: Barnaby Marder

Barnaby Marder — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:46:05 +0000

Just looking at the result here Matt’s prediction was pretty good. I like Joe haven’t been for ages – I had relatives here in my youth & visited often but haven’t been in decades.

By: Joe James B

Joe James B — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:05:20 +0000

It is dangerous because you can’t feel internal pain in the same way, and I think the body can fight it for quite a long time.
Totally agree with Barnaby – for Goodness sake get it checked and live.
There are improvements all the time.

This looks like the somewhat safer Tory seat of the two Bournemouth seats but I haven’t been here for a very long time.

By: Barnaby Marder

Barnaby Marder — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:58:04 +0000

He was I believe somewhat churchy & broadly on the left of the Conservative Party. He was a safe pair of hands who came in after the John Cordle scandal and was well thought of as a constituency MP as you say Joe. His article is very appropriate though obviously sad – if you think you have symptoms, for goodness sake have them checked out. No-one will have a go at you if you have any sort of founded suspicions that you have cancer.

By: Joe James B

Joe James B — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:51:29 +0000

Looks like sad news.
He apparently wrote an article last year asking people not to ignore symptoms out of fear (indicating he did)- it might be possible to stop if you act in time.
He had the same variant as a relation of mine who has, touch would, been restored to full health.

I have to say, I didn’t know much about him though – he won a by-election in 1977 and retired at the 2005 election, but sounds like he was a good constituency MP.

By: Barnaby Marder

Barnaby Marder — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:03:55 +0000

I hadn’t heard the news, but as soon as I saw that Harry had made a contribution to this thread, I knew it was likely someone had died.

By: Harry Porter

Harry Porter — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:31:36 +0000

David Atkinson, former MP for this seat, died of cancer on 23 January, aged 71.