Becka.

Is that taken from the Churchyard? Lynton and Lynmouth are beautiful places and isn’t Porlock Hill an interesting drive? I love that part of the world.

Regards,

kev35

For me it would have to be Bomber Command, 42, 43 or 44. Not brave enough to have fought as an individual but perhaps as part of a crew. Somewhere up the front end though, not mid upper or rear gunner. Preferably with one of the heavies. Moggy once said perhaps I should have been part of P/O Moxey’s crew just so I could have found out exactly what went wrong.

Regards,

kev35

Ahhh, I wish I was too young to have ever seen a VC10 or a Britannia in airline service. 😉

I once saw 5 VC10s parked in a row at Ringway, many many moons ago, from 4 different airlines on a day when Heathrow and Gatwick were closed by fog.

Bliss!!!!! 😀

Would they have been BOAC, (or BA), Ghana Airways, BUA and Gulf Air by any chance?

Regards,

kev35

Kabir,

If you know Adrian’s surname please PM me as I may be able to help a little.

Regards,

kev35

Alex.

It seems clear that the Russians responded to events and did not storm the school as a set piece military manouevre. My point is that there was no cordon, civilians and reporters right in the thick of it (in the case of those who acted as stretcher bearers and used their own vehicles as ambulances it is good that they did) and civilians running round joining in the shooting?

Yes, the Russians were forced into this and in all likelihood it would have ended badly anyway. I have no doubt that the Russian forces did their best, it must have been devastating for the Russian soldiers to see so many being killed and unable to stop the carage soon enough. I just feel they might have been better prepared from what past experience has shown them.

Regards,

kev35

“I would never describe the militant scum as “animals” because that is an insult to the animal kindgom, who, after all, are far more noble than such scum.”

Comet, this is a crude point in the extreme. Animals are cruel. Have you ever watched a group of magpies mob a squob? It is for pleasure that they kill not necessity. There are other examples. Your loving domestic cat toying with a mouse or bird, the domestic dog killing a sheep and then not knowing what to do with the carcass. Where is the nobility in that?

“My dog is an animal, and I would like to think that the health of my dog, and the welfare of my dog, was more important than the health and welfare of such scum. Even bacteria, viruses and mould spores have more rights and deserve more respect than those militant scum.”

Atrocity breeds atrocity breeds atrocity. The language of vitriol and hatred will do nothing to resolve the situation. The bereaved od Beslan will not take comfort from your words.

“AirPower, I agree with your earlier comment, what a pity it was censored, but that always happens when people speak the unpalatable truth in this country. The only “people” in Britain who, apprarently, have the right to “freedom of speech” are those who preach “jihad” against the West and praise the 9/11 hijackers as “heroes” and “martyrs”.”

This is the dangerous part of your diatribe. We all have freedom of speech, some shout louder than others. Has racist violence in West Yorkshire affected you in Scarborough? Do you experience racism and bigotry every day of your life? Has it ever occurred to you what it would take to drive someone to want to be a martyr?

“You say anything against thses individuals are you are labelled a “racist” “fascist” “nazi” and other offensive things. You can moderate this all you like, but you canot deny that what I am saying here is the TRUTH!”

It may be the truth as you perceive it to be. But not to me. I judge people as individuals, not as a race, or group or by class or status or wealth. You have just delivered a very offensive post complaining that others are offensive. I’m glad Flood edited that post. There is no place for that kind of sentiment here.

And in all you have said there was not one single mention of the most important thing of all, the suffering of the people of Beslan. Not one word expressing any kind of condolence or compassion. Arthur was right. Using Beslan as an excuse to air such opinions was insensitive and selfish.

Regards,

kev35

I don’t think people will expect a higher level of service because it’s Valencia. They certainly don’t get it with Thomsonfly from Coventry as I know from experience. Valencia is ideal for tourism in the interior. Towns like Utiel, Camporrobles, Villagordo del Cabriel are ideal places from which to explore the magnificent scenery and local arts and crafts. Not to mention fantastic wine producing country. VLC airport is reasonable and it was nice to see the retired Iberia A300’s parked there. I shall definitely try Easyjet from BRS next time I go to VLC, especially if their prices remain competitive.

Regards,

kev35

Moggy.

Sorrow is the best word I can come up with. Sorrow for the hostages who had to endure two days of desperate privations before the terrible, dramatic end. Sorrow for the town of Beslan, a community destroyed by the deaths of so many of its younger generations. Sorrow for ill-prepared and apparently ill-led Russian soldiers who, if the stories are true, were forced into such desperate action. Who could stand by and watch children being shot and not try to help.

But there is also hope. The incredibly brave and selfless acts of the townspeople who became stretcher bearers, medics, offered their own vehicles as ambulances and putting themselves in the line of fire to help when the Russian forces were so heavily engaged. The bravery of the hostages. Helping each other, consoling each other and, if reports are correct, one young man going back into that hell hole on the first day because his younger sister was still inside.

I’d also like to mention Sky News reporter Rachel Amatt. Her reporting of this tragedy was incredible. She was calm, measured and constantly edging closer to the action. She deserves the highest praise for bringing the real hooror of this tragedy to life with her words.

Finally, how about hope for the world? Will this unite us in a quest to see the end of such outrages? Or doe we now go quietly back to our lives and push Beslan to the back of our minds….. Until the next time.

Regards,

kev35