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| Season:
Spring 2001 |
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| Vol:
34 |
| No.
2 |
| Year:
2001 |
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| Editorial: |
FOUR and a half years after the horrific machette attack at St. Luke's Nursery, Wolverhampton in which small children and their nursery nurse. Lisa Potts, G.M. (Black Country Personality No. 50 in Vol. 34 No. I of The Blackcountryman) were badly injured, Lisa's compensation has been announced. The total figure includes amounts for loss of earnings (nursery nurses are poorly paid), psychological damage (Lisa still suffers), and physical injuries (her most recent operation was only a few weeks ago).
In my profile of Lisa in the Winter magazine I listed some of the immediate hospital repair work thus: 45 stitches in her left hand which was nearly severed, 15 stitches in her right hand, 25 stitches on her back and her skull was chipped by another blow. The injuries element in the compensation package was just �1,000. She described this and the children's compensation as unfair and this sparked off some unjustified criticism in a national tabloid and from a surgeon who attended some of the victims. The latter in a letter to The Times stated, "For her injuries she received a sum of money that many would consider substantial. It is sad that she expects more." �1,000 for those injuries - Ridiculous! He also stated that she had written three books, as if that had any bearing on the assessment for injuries. (The profits from the first book were donated to The Acorn Children's Hospice).
Lisa's complaint that the injuries element of the award is not commensurate with their severity has been justified by the news that the Home Secretary has announced that there is to be a shake-up of the compensation scheme for the victims of crime in view of the awards given in this case.
Our Black Country heroine does not deserve the nasty comments, and one hopes that, helped by the tremendous volume of support that she has received, she will treat them with the contempt they deserve.
From its founding in 1966 the Black Country Society has been at the forefront of the campaign to ensure the survival of the term The Black Country when some would have preferred to discard it. From time to time The Blackcountryman has taken these people to task. Gradually the nickname coined in the mid-19th century has become more generally accepted with the term being used as a prefix for important bodies such as The Black Country Living Museum, The Black Country Metropolitan Boroughs and the Black Country Development Corporation. The number of local businesses using the term in their title runs into three figures. The most recent move to consolidate the name further is by The Express & Star which in response to a suggestion by a Society member has adopted as its masthead for the Dudley edition, "Dudley - The Capital of the Black Country." In this issue Black Country Personality No. 51 is a former colleague in Education, Angus Dunphy who was awarded the O.B.E. in the New Year's Honours List. Honours awarded to two other members are also recorded.
Five new contributors have their articles included in this issue, which together with items from our old established writers and the regular features, will provide something of interest to all readers.
The name of my successor should be announced at the A.G.M. and I shall 'soldier on' until he is ready to assume responsibility.
Stan Hill.
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| 10
things you can read about in this month's issue: |
| Black Country Personality no. 51 Angus Dunphy O.B.E. - Stan Hill |
| The Black Country Pitt Clubs - C.J. L. Elwell |
| The Society and the Black Country Living Museum - David F. Vodden |
| The Flight from the Bumblebee - Graham Fisher |
| Powell and Asbury 1919-2001 - A.T. Burgess |
| George Alfred Haden Haden - Jack Beard |
| More antique maps from the 18th century - Eric Richardson |
| Industrial Archaeology tours - Ron Moss |
| The Brettell Lane Canal Disaster 1903 - Clive Butcher |
| Red House Glassworks - John Hemingway |
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