A Fenlander's Diary

WHAT a splendid occasion the meeting of March Town Council turned out to be on Monday. Especially the bit when it came to proposing who should be the new mayor of March.Behind the scenes all was going swimmingly for Councillor Peter Skoulding to elevate upwards from the deputy mayoralty, and for Councillor Bernard Keane to become deputy.However, independent councillor Patsy Brewin had other ideas and proposed Councillor Jan French, with Councillor Sylvia Keane as her deputy.It went to a secret ballot and out the other end popped the all-female partnership of Jan and Sylvia. Brakespeare, of course, has no insight into these affairs but he does wonder how it all might have turned out if Councillor Trevor Quince had not volunteered to represent the council that evening at the inauguration of the rector of St John's. Or, indeed, what might have happened if both Labour councillors had not been on their hols.On such nights are political fortunes won and lost.IT is generally accepted that adults should set a good example to youngsters when it comes to disposing of litter.This was certainly not the case in a Wisbech car park on Tuesday afternoon. Two youngsters and two adults sat in a car close to Brantano's eating their take-away food.It was the adults who were the first to open their windows and throw out the cartons and remains of their food. They were closely followed by the youngsters.Some poor member of staff had to come out in the pouring rain and clear up the mess.BRAKESPEARE is delighted to tell you he has been invited to spend time in one of his favourite sanctuaries next week, a new betting shop.But in this instance it's all in a good cause - £100 worth of good causes to be precise.Coral is launching itsr new betting shop in Market Place, Wisbech, and has invited me or my representative to place a £100 charity bet at the opening.And even if the nag were to subsequently lose, the decent chaps at Coral say they'll pay the £100 anyway to a charity of my choice.If you have an idea where the cash would wisely be spent, drop my editor a line: his e-mail is brian.asplin@archant.co.ukGood chap that he is, he'll pick the charity, and I, hopefully, will pick the winner. MONEY and sense were never related anyway, but even Brakespeare was drawn to wonder at the advert in a rival publication celebrating the birthday of Chewy, who in case you haven't already guessed is a dog."You're a little cutie, a cheeky monkey, and full of fluffy fun," gushed mummy, daddy, Nicholas and Shelby in a two-column advertising box. And in case you're wondering if Brakespeare lacks heart, be assured he doesn't since domiciled with him in his country pied a terre are three cats, and three dogs, two of the latter brought home from an animal sanctuary. ITALIANS selling 'fake' leather jackets in the Fens, reported in our news columns last week, prompted a response from 'Norman of Wisbech' who recalls an incident in 2002."A man was sitting in quite a smart car in the Tesco car park at Wisbech," he says. "He called me over and gave me the explanation about having to pay tax to take some jackets back to Italy."I would not have bought anything in these circumstances anyway," says Norman "but after he had shown me the quality of the 'real leather', I told him I was a vegetarian."After that, recalls Norman, " he didn't try to persuade me further."I PROMISE this is the last chapter in the debate over who received the lowest number of votes in an election.The final word goes to Chatteris councillor Chris Howes, who stood for the Liberal Democrats in the recent Manea by-election.Councillor Howes draws to my attention the noble efforts of Catherine-Taylor Dawson who stood in the general election for the delightfully named Vote for Yourself Rainbow Dream Ticket Party."She distinguished herself by only getting one vote, presumably by voting for herself," chortled Cllr Howes.