When I first moved here 137 years ago, sorry I meant to say 26 years ago (it just feels like the former with the way the area has gone in recent times), I remember quite a few people, who had made the move to here prior to me, stating how they had found that Lincolnshire was at least ten years behind the times.
Regrettably, I have to admit that I fully subscribed to that point of view after only a very short period of time of living here myself, although I offset that due to the peace and quiet of Lincolnshire, which in itself, it has to be stated, has unfortunately largely disappeared nowadays.
One could be forgiven for thinking that such a situation (being behind the times) must have, by now, largely been rectified.
Imagine my surprise then (or perhaps not), to read an article in your paper last week with regard to Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue “updating” its fire safety checks to focus on the vulnerable in our society.
Further, I note that the county councillor for the fire service appeared to be quite proud of the fact that the service was expanding in this direction.
I do not in any way, shape or form criticise the county fire service for doing so, but it may interest your readers to know that, when I was serving in the London Fire Brigade and following a move into the fire safety department, I was part of a team that did exactly this type of community safety. The year – 2005.
There are many ex-members of London Fire Brigade living in this area and, indeed, some firefighters serving at Spalding who previously served in London, who will know this to be so only too well.
We (London Fire Brigade) also worked in partnership with the Metropolitan Police on the dangers of “bogus callers”.
Perhaps Mr Worth would like to take up that idea and award himself some more “brownie points” for being so innovative and forward looking!
So you see, Lincolnshire has not, in over a quarter of a century, advanced much as such and, indeed, appears to have cemented and firmly consolidated its position as the backward county of England.
Tony Bown
Whaplode St Catherine
