The ultimate sacrifice of a war reporter

4:10pm Tuesday 28th February 2012 in Margo Grimshaw column Photograph of the Author By Margo Grimshaw, Lancashire Telegraph columnist

WAR. When we consider it we mainly think of our soldiers, but a war has many more casualties — civilians, women and children, property and homes.

This week we have also had the heroic and tragic deaths of war reporters, people we take for granted.

We see them on the news giving us the latest update, talking often above the noise of gunshot, but do we ever think of the risk and danger they face in order to give us that ‘up close’ reporting?

I must say until this week that I didn’t and I suppose many others had taken it for granted, too.

Well, I won’t in future; I will give them the admiration and credit they deserve.

On the subject of the Press, do you think it is being fair and unbiased on the subject of bank bonus schemes?

I am led to believe that the bonuses that have been paid out recently have been paid to the section of the bank that has made profit and is recovering.

It’s so easy to say ‘why give any bonus?’ but in the world of high finance and fierce competition the best people for the job have to be head-hunted and tempted, and at the moment the RBS and we, the owners, certainly need the best people.

Folk, me included, often grumble and knock the National Health Service, but when it comes to the crunch, we always find that it’s there for us.

This week I have been very much gratified by the care and attention that has been shown both by Doctor Phillips, his Brownhill Surgery staff and also by the staff at the Royal Blackburn Hospital when Bill was taken ill.

All have been most caring and professional.

I’ve been sick abroad, so can compare, and the treatment here is second to none.

Bill is improving and should, hopefully, be back home soon and up to aggravating us all, as usual.

I was up soon on Sunday morning to do Radio Lancashire’s version of ‘What the papers say’.

Fortunately my fellow panellist was the very charming Sir Bill Taylor, so I had a nice time.

Comments (2)

5:30pm Tue 28 Feb 12

Brian Todd says...

I am sorry but I do not agree that "You have to pay the going rate for the job to get the best staff"
You have to select staff who believe in your principles and are comitted to the job, not the salary. Unfortunately even Local and Central Government have been hoodwinked by the "rate for the job" which was correct when skilled workers were agreeing "the rate for the job " throught our country. The current "Fat Cats" who are getting "the rate for the job" are now often overpaid and many of the higher echelons of Local Government are among these.
Most of course are in the Private Industries where the annual profits in banks, Shops ect. are so high that they should be taked and redistributed to the average worker. Once "the rate for the job" was reasonable not the Mantra that you need to pay "The rate for the job" to get the best is simply blackmail. In some jobs you need comitted workers who have the comittment to public service rather than demanding "the rate for the job"!!!!!!!!
I am sorry but I do not agree that "You have to pay the going rate for the job to get the best staff" You have to select staff who believe in your principles and are comitted to the job, not the salary. Unfortunately even Local and Central Government have been hoodwinked by the "rate for the job" which was correct when skilled workers were agreeing "the rate for the job " throught our country. The current "Fat Cats" who are getting "the rate for the job" are now often overpaid and many of the higher echelons of Local Government are among these. Most of course are in the Private Industries where the annual profits in banks, Shops ect. are so high that they should be taked and redistributed to the average worker. Once "the rate for the job" was reasonable not the Mantra that you need to pay "The rate for the job" to get the best is simply blackmail. In some jobs you need comitted workers who have the comittment to public service rather than demanding "the rate for the job"!!!!!!!! Brian Todd

6:09pm Tue 28 Feb 12

alfiebarnes says...

I'm glad you appreciate the NHS Margo. Perhaps you could have a word with with your tory mates (eg that old schmoozer Sir David Trippier whom you were swooning over recently) to persuade them not to smash as it up as they appear to be determined to do at the moment.
I'm glad you appreciate the NHS Margo. Perhaps you could have a word with with your tory mates (eg that old schmoozer Sir David Trippier whom you were swooning over recently) to persuade them not to smash as it up as they appear to be determined to do at the moment. alfiebarnes

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