That was the week that was

The good thing about journalism - the reason so many people want to get into it as a career (it’s certainly not for the money, believe me) - is you never know what’s going to happen from one hour to the next, let alone from day to
day.

But even by Shropshire Star standards, this week has had everything including its fair share of tragedy and joy.

The week started in a sombre mood when it emerged Telford Jehovah’s Witness Emma Gough had died just hours after giving birth to twins because her faith would not allow her to have a blood transfusion.

Clearly this has led to endless debates about the rights and wrongs of such a decision. For my own part it just goes to reaffirm my beliefs on any organised religion.

In Stark contrast, Thursday’s paper featured new mum Alison Hickman, who gave birth on the side of the road with the help of husband Richard. Thanks in part to the local knowledge of ambulance crews and controllers, mother and
baby Isobel are doing fine.

Those wise men in their Birmingham-based ivory tower want rid of the Shropshire control centre, so one can only imagine what might happen next time when the crew has to ask Tom Tom where to go and end up being directed down a country lane which ends at a footpath to a canal.

In the meantime, more of our emergency services were treated with contempt, but this time by a bunch of kids who I can only imagine are dressed in tracksuit bottoms, jumpers and Burberry baseball caps.

Little idiots who are lighting fires and then, when the firefighters turn up to deal with them, attacking and abusing the crews.

It makes you think that the only way they will learn is if their own house burns down and the crews can’t deal with it because they’re too busy tackling the rubbish fire they set.

I propose a new bylaw which allows the firefighters to turn their hoses on any of these prats who cause them any
grief (this is a watered-down version of my original bylaw which would have allowed them to take their axes to them - someone pointed out this might not be appropriate).

Something that tickled me this week was the news that some residents living near the new theatre in Shrewsbury have suddenly lost their TV signal - and are pointing the finger squarely at the height of the new development.

Now, I seem to recall that when the theatre was first suggested there were question marks over whether the town needed it and whether or not people would go.

So it appears to be a stroke of genius by the borough council. Stick it so high that no-one can watch Hollyoaks anymore and they’ll have to come out and see the Musical Youth tribute band Pass the Dutchie on the RIGHT Hand
Side (back by popular demand).

By Dave Burrows