| Hastings pier: once a place for solace and reflection One Hastings resident describes the feelings of anger and grief after the town's historic pier was destroyed by fire this morningHastings pier has been the heart of this wonderful historically rich fishing town for 138 years, but I never knew it existed until I was released from prison just over six years ago.Hastings was the nearest large town to the prison from which I was finally released after serving 20 years of my life sentence and it was there I decided to make my home.Those early days were filled with conflicting emotions, of happiness and guilt and occasionally I found myself suffering bouts of depression.To try to keep a clear perspective on my situation I began taking long walks along the beach, from the old fishing net huts situated by the town's famous Stade, all the way along to the pier.There I would walk its entire length and sit at its furthest point, gazing out over the windy Channel towards France.It was such a peaceful place. I'd stare out at the huge tankers en route to faraway places and between them and me fishing boats from the Hastings fleet would bob.I would imagine the lives of all those seafarers and wonder at their labour. The odd line fisherman would turn up and I remember being awed by their patience.Conversations taught me that as well as hoping for a catch, these individuals, like me, were just looking for some peace. Sometimes too, lovers would stroll by, hand in hand – they might stop and stare like me across the foaming wild horses.The end of that pier was a wonderful place to find solace.When it closed down in 2006 many in the town were outraged. The letters page of the Hastings Observer was filled with angry words.Looking at the smouldering wreckage this morning was heartbreaking.There is anger in the town, but more than that there is an almost palpable sense of grief.Trail of disasters Seaside landmarks and their fates1994: Birnbeck, Weston-super-MareThe only pier that links to an island. It was already in a poor state when it suffered storm damage leading to closure.March 2003: West pier, BrightonThe Brighton landmark fell into disrepair and was closed in 1975. A storm caused partial collapse in 2002 and fire destroyed it the following year. Restoration plans have been abandoned.October 2005: Southend pierThe longest pleasure pier in the world opened in 1830. Its turbulent history included a tanker hitting it in 1986, creating a 70ft gap, and three previous fires. The pier has now reopened.July 2008: Grand, Weston-super-MareThe Grand closed for three years following a blaze in 1930, and was destroyed in the 21st century by another fire. But it is due to reopen soon after being rebuilt.July 2008: Victoria pier, Colwyn Bay After a long period of decline the 1900 pier finally closed to the public.September 2008: Fleetwood pierBuilt in 1910, the pier was damaged by fire in 1952. It was rebuilt and given another facelift in 1972 but the most recent fire left it wrecked.PiersHastingsFirefightersCrimeErwin Jamesguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Complaint about MP's conduct made The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards receives a complaint into the conduct of a Liberal Democrat MP. bbc.co.uk |
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Dyke: BBC at fault for decline in reputation Former director general says he is partly to blame following rows over top salaries and David Kelly affairGreg Dyke, the former director general of the BBC, believes the public service broadcaster has damaged its standing at home and abroad with a series of self-inflicted wounds.As the corporation faces grave financial challenges following the comprehensive spending review, Dyke – who stepped down in 2004, amid the furore caused by the Hutton inquiry into the death of government weapons inspector David Kelly – accepted some of the blame in an interview with the Observer. He said the BBC's fraught relations with government and the huge sums it has paid to top management and stars such as Jonathan Ross and Graham Norton had dented confidence in a media network that should be the envy of the world."The great strength of the BBC was how highly it was valued by the public; and government should recognise what a huge asset it is. But the problem with salaries started around 2005 and 2006 and was allowed to go on too long."Dyke, who is chairman of the British Film Institute and chaired a recent Conservative-commissioned report into the British media, argues that those on the highest salaries ought to have accepted reduced terms. "The management should have started calling people up a lot earlier and telling them: 'If you don't like it, I am afraid you will have to go.' But they let it go on for a long time."In the week the BBC learned that it will have to finance the World Service from its licence fee income, Dyke argues that BBC executives have not only failed to address the issue of inflated fees, but have also mishandled the departure of Mark Byford, who is stepping down as deputy director general."Mark has been made to carry the can," he said. "He is a good bloke and they could really have played it better by letting him go with more dignity. They have dropped him in it. And he was someone who did care about the BBC and who was respected."Byford was appointed as Dyke's deputy in 2004 and became a key figure after the death of Kelly, who was exposed as the source of a controversial Radio 4 news story alleging that the case for the war on Iraq had been "sexed up". Following Dyke's resignation, Byford made a public apology on behalf of the BBC."This was a mistake and it was also probably the most embarrassing moment in the history of the BBC. Standing there next to the acting BBC chairman, Richard Ryder, and apologising for almost everything. It looked terrible," said Dyke.But now, following the release of medical documents relating to Kelly's death, Dyke admits he could have done more to handle the conflict between the BBC and Blair's government. "We should have set up an inquiry ourselves," he said. "Alastair Campbell just went in hard, because he is a thug and those were his tactics. But we could have kicked it into the long grass for a while. It might have worked."Since it became clear that Iraq held no secret weapons, Dyke has said the contentious BBC story was valid: "We know now that whatever you think about it journalistically, that government WMD report was not an intelligence report at all. It was put together as an argument as to why we should go to war."Dyke said that he recalls every moment of the weekend of Kelly's death, and his decision, at the bereaved family's request, to hold back confirmation that Kelly had spoken to BBC journalists. "My wife was convinced that the security services had killed Dr Kelly. But I think the minute Lord Hutton ruled that the medical reports should be kept for 70 years, it was obvious there would be conspiracy theories."Why did he do that? Maybe this will be the end of the Kelly affair, but it is interesting that it has come back again," said Dyke. "I am not a conspiracy theorist; I think Dr Kelly killed himself, but I met some Australian spies once who were pretty convinced that MI6 had killed him."Greg Dyke will be speaking about his career at the Penfolds' Vintage Years event on 2 November at The Hospital Club, London, at 7pm. The event is sponsored by the makers of the vintage Australian wine, Penfolds Grange.Greg DykeBBCDavid KellyVanessa Thorpeguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Tamara Mellon interview: For services to shoes Tamara Mellon has risen to dizzy heights from tough beginnings. She tells Julia Llewellyn Smith about her fractured family, booming business and recent OBE . telegraph.co.uk |