David Boorer, of Bovey Tracey, writes:
I would like to respond through your pages to Mr Horrel, chairman of Bovey Tracey FC, and to his invitation to join the committee of the club. This follows the publication of the story concerning a fence shutting out the community.
Mr Horrel phoned me last Friday in response to my complaint about his fence, as is his right, with a number of questions, one of which was 'why was it my right to complain about the fence?'. Since when wasn't it anybody's right to complain about something they were not happy with?
Another of his questions was 'how long had I lived in Bovey Tracey?'. I asked him what that had to do with anything, but that I had lived in Bovey for four years.
Apparently it's 'people like me' that do not contribute to the community, and cannot be considered a Boveyite. Really? I shop locally, help with the youth of Bovey at the Youth Cafe and pay to watch Bovey Tracey FC when they have home games. I think I contribute.
In answer to the invitation, as I explained to Mr Horrel, I am a serving member of the Royal Marines, and have recently been posted to Northwood headquarters for a two-year appointment, but would be more than happy to come to a committee meeting when I am home if I thought my contributions would be heard objectively.
While I have never disagreed with the football club's ambitions and understand their need to meet overheads, why wasn't a hedge put up which would be more in keeping with the surroundings?