Pay it Back.........

[British Red]

Yes, thats what I meant.

I need your help. I have never, ever, been so damn angry in my entire life.

Why? Try this on for size................

Injured soldiers who lost their limbs fighting for their country have been driven from a swimming pool training session by jeering members of the public.

The men, injured during tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, were taking part in a rehabilitation session at a leisure centre, when two women demanded they be removed from the pool. They claimed that the soldiers "hadn't paid" and might scare the children.

The incident has sparked widespread condemnation. Adml Lord Boyce, a former head of the Armed Forces, said last night the women should be "named and shamed".


The disabled men were injured during tours of Iraq and Afghanistan
"These people are beneath contempt and everything should be done to get their names and publish them in the press," he said. "It is contemptible that people who have given up their limbs for their country should be so abused when they are trying to get fit again."

It comes after calls for the public to do more to welcome home troops back from tours of duty and to recognise the bravery of those fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The unpleasant scenes broke out at Leatherhead Leisure Centre in Surrey when the wounded veterans, who are at Headley Court Military Hospital, had to use the 25-metre public pool because the hydro-pool at the defence rehabilitation centre is not big enough for swimming.

The servicemen were about to begin their weekly swimming therapy in closed-off lanes when they were verbally abused by the swimmers.

One woman in her 30s was said to be infuriated by the lane closures saying the soldiers did not deserve to be there when she had paid.

It was also reported that others complained that limbless servicemen were scaring children at the centre.

The atmosphere was said to be so tense that the soldiers' instructors removed them.

Charles Murrin, 79, a Navy veteran who saw the incident, said: "The woman said the men do not deserve to be in there and that she pays to come in the pool and they don't. I spoke to the instructor in the changing room afterwards and he was livid."

It is not the first time that Headley Court neighbours have been accused of poor behaviour.

There was uproar earlier this year after residents objected to planning permission to convert a home into a six-suite hostel for injured soldiers' families to stay in. The local council later approved the building work.

Well guys & girls, I for one am not going to permit this. Fairly shortly, you will see some of my equipment up for auction, the winner will be asked to pay "Help for Heroes" a charity aimed at providing help and facilities for wounded servicemen and women - including a proper pool for Headley Court so that these heroes do not need to associate with the pond life that insulted them.

If anything I have done on these boards has helped you - tutorials, "pay it forward", whatever, please help me to show our armed forces that most of us do NOT think like this.

I'm typing this with tears rolling down my face since I'm ashamed to be a member of the "public" who did this

Red

 

[CLEM]

Iam speechless,my god what has become of this once great country.What has happened to us as a people,society,nation.This is an utter disgrace,I cannot express how angry this has made me feel!

 

[Bernie Garland]

Yes, thats what I meant.

I need your help. I have never, ever, been so damn angry in my entire life.

Why? Try this on for size................



Well guys & girls, I for one am not going to permit this. Fairly shortly, you will see some of my equipment up for auction, the winner will be asked to pay "Help for Heroes" a charity aimed at providing help and facilities for wounded servicemen and women - including a proper pool for Headley Court so that these heroes do not need to associate with the pond life that insulted them.

If anything I have done on these boards has helped you - tutorials, "pay it forward", whatever, please help me to show our armed forces that most of us do NOT think like this.

I'm typing this with tears rolling down my face since I'm ashamed to be a member of the "public" who did this

Red

i am 100% behind you and will donate one of my bushcraft knives to your cause
bernie

 

[xylaria]

What a disgusting way to treat anyone with a disability, let alone a group that signed up to protect this country. Those stuck up judgemental [female canines] need to sent to Helmand prov. to be taught what can really scare children. I will gleefully buy somethings if it helps.

 

[bloodline]

Absolutling appalling behaviour, its bad enough being injured and let down by your Leaders but when the public fail you as well it doesnt seem worth young men serving their country.Get things moving Red I will make a donation let me know when.

 

[British Red]

Thats amazingly kind - thanks Bernie!

I'm just hosting some pictures now and I'll get an auction thread going. I am rarely speechless - but I just can't let this go quietly by. Its not about money - its just about saying "we don't feel like that - we are grateful to you guys - please believe us - heres a little something to show its not just words".

I am still trying to understand someone who thinks the couple of pounds they pay to use a pool is more important than a person who has had their limbs blown off whilst serving their country. I just cant believe we have become so self obsessed that someones spoiled brats count for more han a wounded soldier or sailors physical therapy.

Speechless

Thanks guys

Red

 

[Wayland]

I haven't got much physical to offer but how about this for the auction.

I've been planning to offer Landscape photography weekends to the public with a bushcraft / wild camping theme for some time.

So how about we put up for auction a photographic weekend with all the photographic and bushcraft experience I can offer at a location and time of the winners choosing ( although I might recommend a couple of spots ).

Red's suggested it might be best done as a separate deal but we'll work out the details later.

 

[Deleted dude 7861]

well..I'm speechless, disgusted, ashamed to be a part of this country. Why is it we no longer have respect, dignity or common decency towards fellow humans especially those who put themselves on the line for others. Those women should be strung up, horrrible nasty people. GRRRR:AR15firin

 

[chas brookes]

Hi Red
I'm in too when auction is running I will sort some items out.

I to am ashamed of these peoples treatment of the servicemen, I also witnessed some civvy disabled swimmers getting the same treatment about a year ago.
The result was slightly different this time the leisure centre staff involved asked the people making a fuss to leave, which I think was the correct course of action.

However I am not only infuriated by the treatment the servicemen received from the public but by the apparent lack of support the government appear to be giving the troops in the field and when they return injured. Having closed most of the military medical facilities, they continue to downgrade hospital facilities in the community as well, which will mean injured servicemen will often end up being treated a long way from their families and friends.
Having carried out their duties and been injured they should receive the best treatment possible money can buy and should not need to rely on charities to assist them.

But that said we can not change what has happened overnight so any money we can raise will be greatly appreciated, and will show that the majority of the public support them

 

[demographic]

Although I am in no way shape or form a believer in the current war for oil, I am however appalled at the disgusting behaviour exhibited by these women.

It wouldn't make any difference to me how the people lost their limbs, it's still wrong to do what those women did.

 

[British Red]

Gary,

Xylaria,

Bloodline,

Benie

Clem

THANK YOU

I really am not making a lot of sense right now for which I apologise - very few things make me so very angry, sad and so on all at once. I have published a thread here

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?p=347946#post347946

That sets out what I have put into the "pot" its little enough I know and I will try to do more.

There are details in the thread of how to bid or donate. If you do feel able to offer something to auction I will be eternally grateful - I suspect a separate thread for each item would be a good idea to prevent "overlap" and allow people to focus ont he things that would suit them most. I am probably not making much sense so let me just say "thank you" - I am rarely truly speechless but tonight I am

Red

 

[firebreather]

Disgusted.........nothing more I can say.

 

[Toadflax]

Although this incident is no less shocking, I am sorry to say that it is nothing new. I remember reading stories of badly burned RAF pilots during the war being escorted to the theatre by pretty young ladies, and some of the audience being disgusted that these people were being allowed out in public.

I haven't read any of your other threads about this yet, but I have just been given a Trees and Shrubs book by andy_e, free of charge. I don't know if the book is new or used, but when I receive it and find out how much it would cost, I will donate the full new cost of the book to the charity.

If I use some reverse logic, the ignorant women have actually done some good, though I would not like to give them any credit for it. They have brought a deserving cause to the attention of BCUK members, via British Red.

Thank you for your conscience and your indignation, Mr Red, but look on the bright side - appalling behaviour by a few will bring out the best in many. We only need a catalyst such as yourself.



Geoff

 

[deepcmonkey]

A very nice gesture Red

This is the reason why my self and many others have left the forces recently, over a period of 9 years service you would not believe the amount of abuse I have recieved by people for being a Soldier. I have often in the passed been treated like a second class citizen. I realised I didn't really want to risk life and limb any more for this country, a shame really.

 

[Matt Weir]

Shocking. I'll help in some way if I can.

 

[spamel]

A very nice gesture Red

This is the reason why my self and many others have left the forces recently, over a period of 9 years service you would not believe the amount of abuse I have recieved by people for being a Soldier. I have often in the passed been treated like a second class citizen. I realised I didn't really want to risk life and limb any more for this country, a shame really.

Sad but true. In the end, I wondered why I was risking life and limb and also missing out on my childre growing up. Needless to say I signed on the line, got out and no longer feel it necessary to shave every day! The women in question should have been ejected from the premises in the clothes they stood in, no questions asked.

 

[BorderReiver]

Got a link Red? This story needs spreading about a bit.


EDIT : Found it.

 

[British Red]

Guys your posts here mean so much to me that I cannot thank you enough!

Just so that you know, Cairodell has made a fantastic offer, as has Bernie Garland, Wayland and others.

I know Lou1661 wanted to keep a generous offer qquiet - but guess who gets a day learning sharpening from me together with a guided walk of the Hampshire Downs and lunch in probably the best pub in the world!

Thank you all

Red

 

[Mirius]

I can't say that I'm shocked by this unfortunately, but this sort of thing makes me burn with anger. You've helped me Red very generously, not that I'd need it to support what you are doing here. I'll do what I can.

 

[Timinwales]

Red,
As a child my own father spent a couple of years in Hedley Court following a serious car accident. He was never expected to walk again the fact that he did is testiment enough the most excellent work carried out there. Later I too took the Queens Shilling and have been fortuneate enough to never need their services one or two friends and collegues have not been so lucky though. While at this moment in time I do not have a much I can throw into an auction from a purely Bushcraft angle I do have a macpac bumbag/lumbar pac which has seen virtually no use I'm more than happy to bung in as an item.

On a personal note the two women concerned are not worth mention but I honestly hope their children never need Hedleys services and wonder if their mothers attitudes would be any different were that the case.

Cheers Tim

PS Red if the mac pac is any use PM me and we can sort details out.