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Diary: An Olympic legend's verdict on Trenton Oldfield: serves you right Diary: An Olympic legend's verdict on Trenton Oldfield: serves you right
(3 months later)
• A bittersweet week in many ways for Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race protester Trenton Oldfield as he absorbs the Home Office's decision to exact revenge by refusing to grant him a spousal visa. His British wife expects their first child at any moment. One appreciates the stress. But there is an upside, and that mainly consists of the extraordinary support he has received since news of his predicament was made public by the Guardian. Thousands have taken to social media to condemn the government's stance as heavy handed – bearing in mind that Oldfield did two months of a six-month sentence in Wormwood Scrubs. His MP is behind him and on Tuesday Tobias Garnett, a renowned Boat Race competitor, took his side, condemning Oldfield's disruption of the race but vigorously asserting his right to a family life under Article 8 of the European convention on human rights. Before the merde really hit the paddle, there was also apparent support for Oldfield from the Olympic legend Sir Matthew Pinsent, an umpire during the disrupted race. "People said, 'I hope it doesn't happen at the Olympics', but I'd always reply, 'Look, I want to live in a country where protest is possible. However unwelcome it was, I still value the freedom to do that'," he posted on Comment is free last December. But that was then. This is now. "He made his bed in his protest and his behaviour in court. He has to lie in it now," was the view tweeted by the Olympic legend on Sunday. Note to Oldfield's support campaign: count him out.• A bittersweet week in many ways for Oxford v Cambridge Boat Race protester Trenton Oldfield as he absorbs the Home Office's decision to exact revenge by refusing to grant him a spousal visa. His British wife expects their first child at any moment. One appreciates the stress. But there is an upside, and that mainly consists of the extraordinary support he has received since news of his predicament was made public by the Guardian. Thousands have taken to social media to condemn the government's stance as heavy handed – bearing in mind that Oldfield did two months of a six-month sentence in Wormwood Scrubs. His MP is behind him and on Tuesday Tobias Garnett, a renowned Boat Race competitor, took his side, condemning Oldfield's disruption of the race but vigorously asserting his right to a family life under Article 8 of the European convention on human rights. Before the merde really hit the paddle, there was also apparent support for Oldfield from the Olympic legend Sir Matthew Pinsent, an umpire during the disrupted race. "People said, 'I hope it doesn't happen at the Olympics', but I'd always reply, 'Look, I want to live in a country where protest is possible. However unwelcome it was, I still value the freedom to do that'," he posted on Comment is free last December. But that was then. This is now. "He made his bed in his protest and his behaviour in court. He has to lie in it now," was the view tweeted by the Olympic legend on Sunday. Note to Oldfield's support campaign: count him out.
• Oldfield is surprised at that turn of events, but then, life's chock full of surprises. Imagine you are Janan Ganesh, the dandyish star columnist of the Financial Times and acclaimed biographer of the chancellor, George Osborne. Imagine you pick up your copy of the paper, recognise your picture above the masthead, and see that someone has billed you as Janesh Ganan, as happened on Tuesday. You'd be surprised and not a little peeved, wouldn't you?• Oldfield is surprised at that turn of events, but then, life's chock full of surprises. Imagine you are Janan Ganesh, the dandyish star columnist of the Financial Times and acclaimed biographer of the chancellor, George Osborne. Imagine you pick up your copy of the paper, recognise your picture above the masthead, and see that someone has billed you as Janesh Ganan, as happened on Tuesday. You'd be surprised and not a little peeved, wouldn't you?
• We hear from the Prince of Wales. As ever, he is concerned about people over 50 who feel they haven't quite fulfilled their expectations in life. "I have long been concerned that such people find it very difficult to find work, and yet they have acquired a great range of skills and experience that are too precious to be just thrown away," he says, lauding the work of his charities. Poor guy. The Queen just won't take a hint. Perhaps she never will.• We hear from the Prince of Wales. As ever, he is concerned about people over 50 who feel they haven't quite fulfilled their expectations in life. "I have long been concerned that such people find it very difficult to find work, and yet they have acquired a great range of skills and experience that are too precious to be just thrown away," he says, lauding the work of his charities. Poor guy. The Queen just won't take a hint. Perhaps she never will.
• She's not for being pushed around. Not by Charles, not by John Humphrys. She fobbed him off on her recent visit to Broadcasting House. And it wasn't the first time. Humphrys tells the Radio Times he once tried to charm her on to the Today programme. Nothing doing. "She listened to me terribly patiently and said 'No. And what's more, Mr Humphrys – if I were ever to do it, it would not be with you!'"• She's not for being pushed around. Not by Charles, not by John Humphrys. She fobbed him off on her recent visit to Broadcasting House. And it wasn't the first time. Humphrys tells the Radio Times he once tried to charm her on to the Today programme. Nothing doing. "She listened to me terribly patiently and said 'No. And what's more, Mr Humphrys – if I were ever to do it, it would not be with you!'"
• More savings to be squeezed out of local government, says the Conservative party chairman, Grant Shapps. Around 10%. And cash-strapped authorities up and down the country wonder if that can be right. But whether they agree or not, councils are going to have to raise their game. How's that been working out at Barnet in north London, the crucible of Tory local government forward thinking? A patchy picture one might say. For at the same time as struggling to have the general populace pay its council tax, officials appear to have had some difficulty getting councillors to pay it. Figures obtained under freedom of information by BBC London show that of many areas experiencing difficulty, Barnet was the worst. Since 2000, eight of its councillors have been threatened with court summonses and only then have they paid what was due. It declined to identify them. But only little people pay taxes on time, apparently.• More savings to be squeezed out of local government, says the Conservative party chairman, Grant Shapps. Around 10%. And cash-strapped authorities up and down the country wonder if that can be right. But whether they agree or not, councils are going to have to raise their game. How's that been working out at Barnet in north London, the crucible of Tory local government forward thinking? A patchy picture one might say. For at the same time as struggling to have the general populace pay its council tax, officials appear to have had some difficulty getting councillors to pay it. Figures obtained under freedom of information by BBC London show that of many areas experiencing difficulty, Barnet was the worst. Since 2000, eight of its councillors have been threatened with court summonses and only then have they paid what was due. It declined to identify them. But only little people pay taxes on time, apparently.
• Finally, as he lies in hospital, Nelson Mandela learns the truth of the biblical maxim that all good things come to those who wait. The man who saved a nation, inspired a generation and changed the course of history, has just been granted the freedom of the London Borough of Brent in north-west London. Let's not be cynical, he went there once. Might make him smile.• Finally, as he lies in hospital, Nelson Mandela learns the truth of the biblical maxim that all good things come to those who wait. The man who saved a nation, inspired a generation and changed the course of history, has just been granted the freedom of the London Borough of Brent in north-west London. Let's not be cynical, he went there once. Might make him smile.
Twitter: @hugh_muirTwitter: @hugh_muir
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