Tuesday 30th September 2003
To Sir Ludovic Kennedy,
For some time I had been minded to write to you, but didn't. Reasons were
that the only address I had was C/o your publishers &, having read that your health had not been good caused me to doubt
whether you would be well enough to respond.
However your letter in The Times, 26 Aug. 2003 (indicating your belief that there are more
miscarriages of justice with an adversarial system of justice than with an inquisitorial) showed that you are still concerned
about miscarriages.
With no hope that The Times would publish my brief response, I send it direct to you.
Changing the system may not be enough. It was said
'Better a bad system run by good people, than a good system run by bad people'. Victims
would say we have a bad system run by very bad people. Giving
judgement against the Attorney General, Lord Denning quoted Thomas Fuller (1608-1661) 'Be you never so high, the law
is above you'. Others would say 'be you never so low, the lawyer is below you'. Learning that Sir Ludovic has strong family connection with lawyers, I suspect he
would disagree
I did write to you on 28/4/03, but did not post it, for reasons as above. For completeness, a copy is below:
My
career has mirrored your own, though miniaturised in every respect. In WW2 you
served in the RNVR, I as an 'Hostilities Only' lower deck rating. You were in
the action against the giant Bismark, I against the smaller but more active Scharnhorst.
We both served on Russian Convoys. We were both 'educated at Roedean' (as I like to boast) in the latter part of 1944, you training
to be a torpedo officer, me to be an LTO.
Having 'done our bit' in the European theatre,
we both set off for the Far East. You never got there, but I did, aboard the
cruiser HMS Cleopatra, joining the East Indies Fleet for the invasion of Burma & Malaya.
It did take place, though it was a bloodless invasion. Cleo was in fact
the first ship into Singapore harbour. I always claim that the Japanese gave
in when the news of my arrival reached them!
After a few years uncertainty we each found our
vacation, you as a writer & broadcaster, me as a small farmer & 'horse whisperer' (to use the popular term).
50 years were to pass before I followed you as
a writer, university student & fighter against injustice.
We each stood for Parliament, you in 1957 as a
Liberal, me against Tony Benn in 1997 as an Independent Old Age Pensioner. (He
was generous enough to describe me as a 'War Hero'. I never made that claim,
but just 'did my bit'.
As members of the Russian Convoy Club we have both
been in trouble with that body, you for supporting euthanasia, me for wearing my white beret when standing for Parliament,
calling for action to reduce crime (a) against the vulnerable & the old, & (b) corruption in the courts.
After my manifesto, my book & especially
my single-handed success in the European Court of Human Rights, I began to feel my life could be in danger, & tried to
tell members at the Dewsbury Branch meeting. The Chairman, Ken Burkinshaw, kicked
me out "We don't want trouble makers in here". The rest of the members said not
a word.
Should
you ignore my 'distress signal' I will not be disappointed, being inured to that feeling by now, but would be grateful if
you could at least acknowledge receipt.
I repeat the last sentence now.
My letter of 10th September 2003 was sent with just a little hope. (See document 'The Disappeared').
In spite of your connection with lawyers, I hoped you might have the integrity - & courage
- lacking in all our completely corrupt 'watchdogs'.
I am sure there must be good reason why you have not yet acknowledged it. If you Do receive these documents, I would be grateful if you could return copies
to me. Sorry to trouble you.
694 Words
Continued with 'The Disappeared', & 'TheEnd23Sept03'.
