Local people from Overmead, and Metcalfe Close were clearing up the rubbish around their area (in South Abingdon) this morning. They helped clear the stream running alongside the field at the bottom of Overmead. And when I passed by, they had already retrieved a child’s buggy, Christmas tree, four footballs, and a few bags of lesser rubbish.
There were also volunteers clearing the path that leads to the the sports fields on Lambrick Way.
It was part of a national initiative by Keep Britain Tidy called ‘Clean for the Queen’.
As a society, or more pressingly; “a community” I can think of other 90 year olds in far dire need of our time and efforts.
I can only assume “Clean for the Queen” is in fact an early April Fools joke?
Maybe us plebs could also “wash for the posh”?
“Let’s recycle, for princess Michael….”
If I were to be the sort of person who “gets offended”… this is certainly truely offensive….
Yes Daniel, what has the Queen got to do with it? A bit of a patronising title. However, Our country is filthy with litter becoming a social problem. I often thought that offenders could be more productively used to clear heavily littered areas. A course in environmental matters and problems would be of more use to them then being locked up in a cell or detention center. People are to be congratulated in taking an interest in our environment. I personally went down our street with a litter picker. It was a waste of time however, as someone put a plastic bag out for the bin men and the contents blew all over the street and it was worse than when I started. I do think in Abingbdon more of an effort could be put into preventing litter, for instance more on the spot fines for littering and more notices about the fines for littering..
Agreed Janet. I have no issue with “keeping Britain tidy”. I don’t even have much beef if other people want to celebrate the Queens birthday. I just don’t like being asked ” to tidy up for her “.
I think the under privileged in society are more worthy of our efforts than the over privileged. Of course…that is just an ill informed opinion on my part, and I accept I may be villified for it.
I agree Daniel, the Queen, the richest woman in the World? Yet we have austerity measures that cause the necessity for HER subjects to have the need of thousands of food banks…. This is someone, whose family live in privilege, at the taxpayer’s expense, never want for anything, and with the flourish of a pen she could write off HER countries debts, and not even make a dent in her wealth. We pay for the upkeep of her many homes, along with the refurbishment and upkeep of her extended families homes…and are then CHARGED for the privilege of going to look around her homes! And before I am pilloried for it…I am not against the monarchy, but with their wealth i do not agree that they should be sponging off of the rest of us who are having to tighten their belts at every turn. And yes I know some will trot out the old chestnut of them “bringing in more revenue than it costs”… but even IF that is true, which I very much doubt, that doesn’t stop them from paying their own way and helping out THEIR subjects in times of need!
Grmph! Snark! Snap! Snarl!
Get a life, guys.
…that’s no way to speak to people John, who put themselves out picking up litter.
I prefer to see opportunities where others see problems. On the assumption that the arrangement with her majesty is reciprocal, I have contacted the palace to see whether she will send round an equerry to clean my loo.
It’s disgusting that local residents should have to go out and litter pick ! Council taxes are paid for this service but locals have a massive part to pay !! I am a dog walker and not old but when out walking the Drayton rd and meadow I always pickup beer/cider cans and bottles ! It doesn’t take much so if your out and about and see rubbish pick it up and bin it !! This is our community so let’s look after it !! Also if you see someone dropping litter kick there ARSE !! Because I will !!!!
Surely you should be requesting a privvy councillor rather than an equerry David
Nah. The tories snapped up all the privvy councillors.
🙂 maybe Corbyn is free – he seems very quiet at moment trying to vigorously support his party’s line on Europe
Remove rubbish for the republic!
Well, this reader (while thinking that the strapline is a bit dozy) actually thinks the Queen:
a) is not the richest woman in the world
b) does a pretty good job, given our system of constitutional government
ppjs. I concede. “The Sunday Times Rich List 2015 estimated her private wealth at £340 million, making her the 302nd richest person in the United Kingdom. Sandringham House and Balmoral Castle are privately owned by the Queen”.
Pretty good job!? I think she does a truely wonderful job. Not sure why there’s a litter pick for her though.
This is actually a Soviet custom and properly called Subbotniki – little Saturday helpers to clean up the mess left after the snow has melted in Russia. It should properly take place in April for Lenin’s birthday.
Only £340 million? Poor duck. Perhaps instead of “Clean for the Queen” we should have “Whip Round for the Windsors”
davidofluton
Try to consider the difference between assets and cash. What do you think an estate agent’s valuation would be for Sandringham and Balmoral – take that from £340 million, and I suspect that one or two lottery winners will exceed the balance.
Of course, she is still very well off – but I remember Michael Winner saying a few years ago that “You can’t really get by without at least 30 to 40 million quid”
Meanwhile, she does a great jog – and so do the splendid people who clear up the rubbish, whoever they do it for.
jog = job! Sorry, bury head in shame….
Not that I understand all what is written here as comments, but I have to agree…. not for the Queen, sounds really strange. I can`t imagan King Harald and Queen Sonja would have had their names involved in a campaign like this here in Norway. People would have been shocked.
We have DUGNAD where we do work for free, to tidy up the neighbourhood, raise money for sport or school trips.
Well done to those who organised this effort. I don’t mind either way whether Her Majesty’s name was attached, it was a good community minded thing they were doing.
I’d also put a word in for the Abingdon Green Gym who do this sort of thing regularly.