Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Friday, December 31, 2021
The Fight Against 'Cashism'
Over the torrid past 21 months, Britain has changed almost beyond recognition - and not really for the better.
One of these horrid Covid trends is what I call "cashism" - the refusal by some retailers to accept The Queen's coinage.
To be fair, this little bit of political correctness started before coronavirus had been heard of by most people.
I recall a trendy coffee shop in Bermondsey Street, London, refusing to take cash in 2019.
It is interesting that it is the right-on establishments that seem to think that banishing real money is a good thing to do.
I well remember the look of shock on the waitress's face when I told her that refusing to accept cash was discrimination against the poorest of the poor - adults without bank accounts.
As well as children.
Yet, when retailers get it into their heads that something is fashionable, politically correct and "worthy", all logic goes out of the window.
You see the same happening with bags. Some charity shops are now charging 10p for a paper bag, even though the Government's tax on plastic bags does not ask them to do this. It's a scam, plain and simple. The charity shop is profiteering on the back of political correctness, charging many times the cost of the paper bag and defenestrating good customer service.
But to get back to cash, it is painful that something that is so important to many people - and vital to the vulnerable - is being discarded under the slippery cloak of Covid.
Caffe Nero, for instance, will not accept cash in most of its branches. Neither will Starbucks - and many the other so-called hospitality businesses.
Often the lame excuse offered by staff is that cash spreads Covid-19, even though that is not the guidance from the World Health Organisation or the Bank of England, which points out the risk is no greater than touching any other surface.
Newspapers have been inundated by complaints from their readers about this nefarious practice, another disgusting milestone on the decline of Britain's retail sector.
Parents have had to make dashes to restaurants to pay the bill for their teenage kids when the restaurateur has refused to take cash for birthday parties et cetera.
Many others are being excluded entirely because of this blatant discrimination.
For me, it indicates once again how political correctness is being used for corporate greed and the pandemic is being taken as a reason to attack freedom and push discriminatory political agendas.
It just goes to show how selfish society has become.
I am tempted to form the Anti-Cashist League (ACL) to fight cashism.
It is important that when you are refused your right to use cash in an outlet, you make a complaint.
In Northern Ireland, for instance, coffee shop chains have been forced into a U-turn by the people - and take cash again.
And it is great to see a bit of spirit occasionally, with right-minded shops refusing to take debit and credit cards.
Good for you!
Friday, January 08, 2021
Dorian van Braam the Elder RIP
This is not an easy one to write. After all the terrible things that have happened this year - to me and to millions of others - it was most pleasant to visit my dear friend Dorian van Braam the Elder at his apartment near Hove seafront a few days before Christmas.
Labels: Dorian van Braam the Elder, Ireland, tribute, writer
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Victory in the Battle of Madeira Drive

Labels: Brighton & Hove City Council, Madeira Drive, South Coast Mods
Monday, August 17, 2020
150 Consecutive Days of Motorcycling: How I Passed My DAS Motorcycle Test
Labels: Burgess Hill, DAS, Mod 1, Mod 2, motorcycle test, Saferide
Sunday, August 09, 2020
Reopen Madeira Drive Campaign, Part 2
[PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR LATEST UPDATE]
Sunday, 9 August Update:
Great protest today by Mods and Rockers at Madeira Drive!
Large numbers of Mods and other scooterists and Rockers and other bikers gathered from 10am - and were interviewed and filmed by BBC South East TV.
Helen, the charming presenter, and her cameraman Graham did a smashing job on covering the all angles. Thanks, guys!
Here is their excellent report.
And here's a fantastic video of the day by Rob Henderson. Thanks, Rob! And here and here are more videos.
The police were very helpful, particularly WPCs Sarah and Lucy, who somehow helped to negotiate for us to ride down Madeira Drive for the cameras.
It was fabulous - Rockers and Mods in the same convoy, fighting for the same cause.
When we were parked up, I made a speech, as did leading South Coast Mod Diggers, my partner Laura King and biker Brian. In my speech, also here, I stressed out how we had come in the Campaign and said we were winning the argument.Quadrophenia star Gary Shail, who played Spider in the cult Mods and Rockers film, sent a message of support to the assembled Rockers and Mods, also reported in the Brighton Argus.
Gary said: "Sorry I can’t be with you this Sunday for the protest to keep Madeira Drive open.
"Madeira Drive was, of course, one of the key locations for the film Quadrophenia in which I played the character of Spider.
“Madeira Drive is an incredibly significant place for Mods and bikers alike, who have been regular visitors to the shops, the restaurants, the bars and all the other places since the early Sixties.
"And I think it’s incredibly sad that all these businesses will suffer, definitely, and, perhaps, even have to close if the planned road closure goes ahead. I believe this is a misguided and terrible decision to restrict this fantastic destination to specific interest groups at the expense of others.”
He added: “I really hope that this Sunday protest is well supported by Mods and Rockers alike, who with all the other supporters now have a petition with nearly 11,000 people.
“So let’s just hope that they might open the eyes of Brighton & Hove City Council and convince them that Madeira Drive is a cultural gem that must be reopened for all visitors."
Many thanks, Gary, for your support and to the South Coast Mods, of which I am proud to be a member, and to everyone else who attended or helped.
Here's a nice video of the event made by South Coast Mod Diggers.
I will update this blog post with images and any other video clips as they come in.
[OLLIE] We speak to you today as representatives of more than 10,600 people who have signed our Petition to Reopen Madeira Drive to all users. We started it because we’d become aware there were no plans to reopen Madeira Drive, which was closed to motorcyclists and cars as a supposedly “temporary” measure to provide exercise space. When lockdown restrictions were lifted, it became apparent Madeira Drive would stay closed, impacting the enjoyment of the mods and bikers who meet there. It’s also badly hurting Madeira Drive’s traders, as trader Trevor Archard has made clear.
[LAURA] It’s clear a few individuals want a permanent closure of Madeira Drive as a stepping stone to making Brighton and Hove car free - without a city-wide public consultation. Despite the great length and width of Madeira Drive, it’s been deemed suitable for exclusive use by cyclists and pedestrians, many of whom prefer to use the existing cycle path and pavement. This is not inclusivity. And it is not busy as daily photographs from our 1,350-strong Facebook group evidenced.
[OLLIE] The Mods and Rockers are now united in the Battle to reopen Madeira Drive, where they have met at the parade of cafes and shops toward the Pier end of the Drive since the early Sixties. Four protests by Mods and Rockers have been held, attracting local, regional, national and, indeed, international media coverage. We welcome the Council’s decision last month to continue to allow official motoring events. However, the ongoing closure casts doubt on the less-official August Bank Holiday Mod Weekender, which attracts thousands of Mods, and over the years has brought in millions of pounds to our city and given pleasure to hundreds of thousands of people – locals and visitors. Madeira Drive is not purely the property of Brighton and Hove people. It’s a national and international destination – the spiritual home of Mods and Rockers and, of course, the setting for the iconic film Quadrophenia, a star of which, Gary Shail, has backed our campaign, describing the decision to keep Madeira Drive closed as ‘misguided and terrible’.
[LAURA] Our more than 10,600 supporters don’t want to consign our traditions and culture to the dustbin of history. Disabled people have also said the closure makes it hard for them to enjoy Madeira Drive and use the facilities provided for them.
Moreover, I work for the city’s heritage and believe the continued closure of Madeira Drive is detrimental to the prospects of restoring Madeira Terraces, which would reopen substantial pedestrian space and provide commercial opportunities. We welcome the Council’s decision to give all revenue from Madeira Drive parking toward the cost of restoring the Terraces and urge you to maximise that income.
[OLLIE] We endorse the Compromise Motion that Councillor Lee Wares is putting to your meeting today: to reopen Madeira Drive one way from the Aquarium Roundabout to Duke’s Mound, allowing a new cycle lane on the south-side of the road and between Duke’s Mound and Black Rock. It would allow access for mods and bikers and help the traders.
[LAURA] The Motion is a fair solution to a highly controversial issue at a time when the Council should be trying to unite the people of Brighton & Hove and those who visit us. Our Petition has received almost three times the number of signatures of its rival cited by Councillor West with no reference to ours, and done so through the passion of stakeholders who use and visit Madeira Drive – not those who do not know where Madeira Drive is.
[OLLIE] Finally, when you vote on the Motion, we ask you to set aside party politics. Please think of all of the people you serve. Think about the local economy and local jobs. Think about our history, culture and traditions - and what makes people visit our fine city. Madeira Drive is a treasure. All the people who love it should be allowed to enjoy it equally. Tonight, YOU can make that happen.
[LAURA] We present our Petition of well over 10,600 signatures to Reopen Madeira Drive to all users. [LAURA AND OLLIE] Thank you.
Labels: Brighton & Hove City Council, Madeira Drive, Nancy Platts, Phelim Mac Cafferty