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Counting cost of trip

I SEE Bill and Kate are enjoying yet another freebie!

This one’s costing thousands and thousands of pounds.

What exactly are they achieving apart from a PR exercise for the monarchy?

Apparently it’s to support a new democracy, and not revive hopes of saving Tata steel works.

Indeed, the Chairman of Tata Steel works declined an invitation, apparently, to attend a charity gala at their hotel there, citing ‘travel commitments’ so its ta ta to that, isn’t it?

At each charity event the Duchess, ex-commoner, whose voice gets plummier by the minute, was supported by a team of stylists, hairdressers, dressers and PAs, again, courtesy of the British taxpayer.

Meanwhile, back on Planet Earth a record number of pensioners have perished due to hypothermia, and austerity cuts have started to bite.

British children now have hunger as their “most constant companion”, with one in five pupils at some schools arriving ravenous each day.

Malnourishment in hospital admissions is also rising.

Foodbank numbers have exploded. Never mind, as long as this cocooned pair are happy, that’s all that counts.

Kate refused to carry out the traditional St Patrick’s Day shamrock to the troops because she would be away from her children for a few hours yet she has not taken them with her on this tour. Curious.

JEFF ADAMS

Bloomsbury

Swindon

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Employee rights in UK

TO justify ‘Remaining’ in an un-reformed EU the Prime Minister states that if the British people vote ‘Leave’ – employee rights to “paid holidays, maternity rights, protections for agency workers and equal pay for women” will be at risk.

He makes the absurd statement that these benefits are guaranteed by Europe, they are not.

They form part of UK law and it would require a change in the law to affect any employees rights.

Our current membership of the EU offers no guarantees regarding employment rights and it is simply silly for the Prime Minister to suggest otherwise.

DES MORGAN

Caraway Drive

Swindon

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Power is stripped away

THE High Court has rejected Swindon Council’s legal challenge to the development at Berkley Farm in Wroughton. The plans to build 100 homes can now go ahead against the wishes of both the local Wroughton residents and the Swindon Borough Council.

It is a sad day when the power to say no to a particular development is taken away from our democratically elected local councillors.

It is especially sad considering the vast expansion of house building in Swindon that our councillors have willingly agreed to during the last 50 years.

TERRY HAYWARD

Burnham Road

Swindon

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EU human rights laws

IN 2011 Anders Breivik single-handedly murdered 77 people in a gun and bomb attack in Norway.

He has just won a human rights case against the government of Norway complaining of poor treatment while in prison.

The court held that his solitary confinement amounted to inhuman or degrading treatment.

This is why we must vote to leave the EU on June 23. We must escape the crazy human rights laws that have been created by the European Court of Human Rights.

STEVE HALDEN

Beaufort Green

Swindon

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Fond farewell to Joan

ON Wednesday this week I attended the funeral of a very dear friend, Joan Olive Haugh.

Dear Joan, she was a great person who had a quite long life and as far as I am aware was loved by just about everyone who knew her.

At the funeral we met up with friends and relatives from all over the country and some from America and Spain who had made the journey to say goodbye to Joan, each in their own way.

It wasn’t a sad affair although many of us I suspect were sad because Joan was gone.

She was a hard-working lady who was widowed at an early age and worked to bring up her sons.

These boys were a credit to their mother.

It was after the funeral proper that I was reflecting that we many of us had not seen some of the others in attendance for quite some time.

And moreover how nice it was to meet up and chat and reminisce about old time and things we all, including Joan, had done together, some of the great times we had in the past. These ranged from young adults, nephews, nieces, great nieces and nephews plus all the older friends and family. All gathered to say goodbye to Joan.

Sad, but so very nice to all meet up. Just a pity it took something so drastic as a death to bring us all together.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we, family, friends etc could all meet up on the odd occasion to chat and reminisce. Talk about old times, find out how others were faring and just generally chat.

So bear this in mind. We, none of us, know how long we have here for our allotted span.

Let’s make the most of it and try and meet up more and be what we really are, FRIENDS.

I know everyone who knew Joan, in whatever capacity, will miss her. So let’s make the most of the friends we still have while we are still able.

DAVID COLLINS

Blake Crescent

Swindon