Times have changed

Pixabay photo

By

Hazel Speed

There was once a vintage TV comedy in the UK called ‘Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width.’ It was about a firm of tailors who pointed out how much material a customer could buy for their money, thereby securing a new tailored suit for less money than one would expect.

Although it received criticism by those who claimed it was racist, others thought it was done in an innocent way and was very funny.  The show was first broadcast many years ago now.

When ‘Allo, Allo’ initially appeared on UK TV, I recall there was a fear, given the storyline, how that would be received.  It has another special place in TV history, the only caveat, of course, being those who actually survived, or lost family and friends during WWII, who may find it too much of a reminder as to the sinister real enemy which these TV characters were ‘spoofing,’ thereby making evil look endearing, whereas of course, during the real war years most were actually cruel and filled everyone with terror.

I refer to these shows as a preliminary to a point which has been made regarding fundraising in the style of the old University Rag Week.

Ludlow Hospital just turned down a donation of £2,500 because of the demeaning way in which it was raised.

In previous times, dress-up, or real doctors and drag style nurses would push beds in the streets, with a mock patient hanging on to the bedhead bars for dear life. Times have changed, in that now this type of thing just isn’t funny and perhaps has had its day.  The donation was to pay for a new ECG Machine.

As Ludlow refused the donation, other nearby hospitals have, apparently said they would be happy to accept it, and didn’t care if it was raised by people without any clothes on at all!

To be fair, in defence of the fundraisers, it was commented that if the people had stood on the high street wearing ordinary T-shirt and jeans, holding a collection tin, they probably wouldn’t have raised half as much.

Well yes, and no perhaps, as the old ‘pushing a bed through the high street routine’ would annoy and deter some from giving.

Women still have a difficult time in many environments to be afforded serious career opportunities, or advancement, and such public fundraising perhaps is best confined to the social history books now.

I personally do not see the link with giving to that of whacky endeavours, or dangerous ones, as at the end of the day we give to whichever charity we wish, just by being asked or seeing a collection box.

Apparently, no decision has yet been made as to which hospital will actually receive the money collected as the fundraisers still hope that Ludlow Hospital will have a change of heart.

I think it is a pity, if it was the case, that no discussion had taken place initially before the ‘annual’ event, especially so given the fundraisers were the Ludlow Hospital League of Friends.

One also wonders if a legal licence had to be obtained to push a large bed along the high street (also insurance in case of accidents).

As the saying so aptly puts it, ‘no good deed goes unpunished.’

Hazel Speed

Photo (c) Hazel Speed – used by kind permision to Tuck Magazine

Hazel Speed is a Philosopher, Writer, and Artist with various creative projects at differing stages of development. Her flaship project is an animation which has produced a film short: www.thepinkprofessor.com. She has also written an E-novel, ‘Just Suppose…!‘ which is available via the attached link.

Art sites: www.candystoreart.com, www.terrificart.com, www.artbadges.co.uk