NOVEMBER 2012
www.celtic-connection.com
Page 29
THE Wild Hunt Bedlam Morris troupe have previously performed at the Tower of London's Ceremony of the Keys.
Morris Dancers ordered to stop after complaints on the traditional routine
LONDON - The Wild Hunt Bedlam Morris troupe were giving a free performance outside The White Lion pub in Warlingham, Surrey when police broke up the show after a complaint from a member of the public.
The 15-strong group of English folk dancers were performing in spooky costumes for a free Halloween show outside the Fifteenth Century pub to an audience of around 30 customers, but were cut short after just six dances.
The group had planned at least 10 other dances, but were interrupted by two police officers who told them to down' their handkerchiefs and sticks and move on as they were causing a noise nuisance.
Morris dancer David Young, who has been dancing with the troupe for the past seven years, said he was disgusted that folk dancers were treated like yobs.
The 69-year-old said, "This is the first time we've encountered anything like it. We felt treated like yobs. We've got ex-oil executives, business owners and a school secretary in our group.
"We just feel aggrieved that something that has such a long history in the country, at a time when it is hard to keep the old traditions alive, should not be allowed."
The respected troupe, which perform in masks and flamboyant costumes, per-
formed at the Tower of Tondon's Ceremony of the Keys - a 700-year-old tradition in which the tower is locked up for the night - in September this year to celebrate the group's twenty-first anniversary.
Staff at the pub said they were surprised at the intervention. One pub worker, who asked not to be named, said, "The police came because they got a complaint from a neighbour.
"I think everyone was a bit surprised really. Morris dancers have been dancing around in the area for years."
A Surrey Police spokesman said, "We received a report from a member of the public about noisy revellers outside the White Tion pub in Warlingham. A neighbourhood police officer attended and spoke to a group.
"The noise had already stopped and no formal allegations were made and the group left the area without incident."
In August last year a group of Morris dancers from the Slubbing Billy s troupe were booted out of the Swan and Three Cygnets pub in Durham after a barmaid said the bells on their shoes broke the bar's music ban.
Disgraced Jimmy Savile's
£4.3m assets frozen as compensation claims loom
LONDON - THE heirs to Jimmy Savile's estate, worth an estimated £4.3 million, may face a legal battle after it was frozen in light of abuse claims.
NatWest Bank, which is acting as the late television presenter and DJ's executor, confirmed it had put the distribution of his wealth on hold.
It could now be used to pay compensation to more than 300 alleged victims over 40 years.
Claims could also be made against Savile's former employer, the BBC, or the National Health Service trusts he volunteered for, if they are found to be negligent.
The estate reportedly includes £3.7 million, less expenses, being held by NatWest on behalf of the Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust.
A further £600,000 is said to have been destined for a trust fund, with eight friends or relatives to benefit from the interest.
And £20,000 was to be shared between other family members, friends and relatives.
Savile also reportedly wanted to leave gold rings to a nephew, and a photo of him with the Beatles to a niece.
NatWest said in a statement, "Given the claims raised, distribution of the estate has been put on hold."
Savile's intended individual beneficiaries reportedly include the trustees of both his charities and existing and former employees of Teeds General Infirmary and Broadmoor Hospital.
Police are investigating claims that the star, who died in October last year, sexually assaulted individuals at both Leeds General Infirmary and Broadmoor Hospital.
Alan Collins from legal company Pannone, said, "Pannone are also actively pursuing inquiries into Savile's overseas assets, which we believe are being administered in Guernsey."
Savile's estate was previously put on hold in July after a woman claimed to be his illegitimate daughter. It is believed the latest freeze may be in anticipation
POLICE investigating the Jimmy Savile abuse scandal are following more than 400 lines of inquiry linked to around 300 alleged victims. Pictured above is the Glencoe cottage Alt-na-reigh owned by Jimmy Savile in the Scottish Highlands. It has been defaced with slogans and symbols since the scandal broke.
of legal claims for damages by Savile's alleged victims.
Savile's charities, the Leeds-based Jimmy Savile Charitable Trust and
Jimmy Savile Stoke Mandeville Hospital Trust, have already announced they are to close after their trustees decided that keeping them open could be "damaging" to the causes they support.
UK to investigate Hillsborough cover-up claims
LONDON - Britain has launched its biggest independent investigation into the actions of police officers involved in the 1989 Hillsborough soccer disaster.
The disaster saw 96 Liverpool fans crushed to death during a match in the city of Sheffield.
The victims, many young, died in an overcrowded, fenced-in enclosure at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield, northern England, at an FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest.
The wide-ranging review will examine potential criminal activity by the police involved, including whether manslaughter charges can be laid.
A large number of officers will be investigated, including those who are still serving.
Among those under investigation is the current Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, Sir Norman Bettison, who has been accused of supplying misleading information after the disaster and trying to influence the local police authority when he was referred to the Independent Police Complaints PCC.
It follows a report by the Hillsborough Independent Panel which claimed 164 police statements were altered in the wake of the tragedy, 116 of them to remove or change negative comments about the policing of the match and the ensuing disaster.
Last month, Prime Minister David Cameron apologized to families of the victims after the report was released.
The tragedy changed the face of English soccer and ushered in a new era of modern, all-seated venues.
Blind man mistakenly hit with 50,000 volt Taser
MANCHESTER - A blind stroke victim who was shot in the back with a 50,000-volt Taser stun gun by a police officer who mistook his white stick for a samurai sword on October 12 is launching a bid for compensation.
Colin Farmer (61), a retired architect, collapsed to the ground in shock and believed he might be dying from another stroke.
The blunder happened after reports were received of a man walking through the town centre of Chorley, Lancashire, with a martial arts weapon.
Farmer, who has suffered two strokes and walks at a "snail's pace," was on his way to a pub to meet friends for a drink and did not realize anything was afoot until the officer Tasered him.
His solicitors have now confirmed that Farmer is planning to launch a civil claim
against Lancashire Police.
Farmer said he heard shouting on the street but did not know what it was about and thought he was going to be attacked by "some hooligans."
He was then struck by the Taser and fell to the ground, dropping his white stick, before a policeman handcuffed him. When the mistake was realized he was taken to Chorley Hospital for treatment and was later released.
Lancashire Police have apologized to Farmer for the "traumatic experience" but confirmed that the officer who fired the Taser has not been suspended and remains on duty.
They said an "urgent investigation" had been launched into the incident and the matter has also been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Com-
A coming of age account of a dysfunctionally functional family
GjHRISTMAS NlSlpE MOVE
MATTHEW GONDER
CHRISTMAS ON THE MOVE
OUT WEST
By Matthew Gonder
ISBN: 9-780985 200206_
By CATHOLINE BUTLER
Just in time for the Christmas season, a new book by author Matthew Gonder is destined to become the new baby boomer Christmas classic.
Christmas On The Move Out West is a wacky memoir set in Portland, Oregon, in 1968, and spans the month of December.
Gonder writes about his father, Seamus (his paternal grandfather was an O'Donnell from County Mayo), a widower with five children who kept his family together through thick and thin
with help from a spinster sister.
Gonder describes the book as a coming of age account of a dysfunctionally functional family.
A family that rolls with the punches as best they can in a collection of crazy, humorous, and sentimental anecdotes full of surprises with an unexpected ending that actually happened.
Many readers have left warm comments onAmazon.com, with words such as "if you like the movie 'It's a Wonderful Life' ...thenyou'll love this!"
Christmas On The Move Out West is available at: Amazon.com; Barnes andnoble.com; elliottbaybooks.com; or call Heather Murphy at (206) 548-9859, or by e-mail: muiplm@earmlink.net.