Cadbury Crosses Out Easter

In this latest brouhaha the prime minister of England and the Arch Bishop of York have got themselves involved. I am talking about the decision of the Cadbury chocolate company to drop the word EASTER  from their annual egg hunt.
For a century or more the Cadbury company has hosted an Easter event for children on the company grounds in Birmingham, England.
It has been known as the "Great Easter Egg Hunt", where thousands of chocolate eggs have been given away free to the local kids. This year it is a hunt with a difference. The title has been changed to the "Great Egg Hunt". "EASTER" has been kept out of it.
The reason? Why, the new human resource department decided that they wanted the event to be more inclusive and did not wish to offend any body who may not be of the Christian Faith.
That was really bright thinking.
In not wanting to offend a few people they have managed to offend thousands more by their mealy mouthed self righteousness, political-correctness.
Also these "newbies" have totally ignored the convictions their founder, John Cadbury, who was passionately of the Christian Faith, and who must be rolling his eyes somewhere in Heaven as he watches their agnostic antics.
Let's hope the intervention of Teresa May, herself the daughter of a Church of England vicar, will manage to put "Easter" back into the egg hunt and get people asking why there are Easter Eggs in the first place.
Jubilate 
Ian

VIMY; A Hundred Years Later.

There will be a massive and sombre memorial service next week in France.

Thousands will attend and if I had my choice I would be there also.
Actually my son Mark and I were at Vimy almost three years ago and as I walked the battle field I was frequently brought to tears.
It was here on this ridge along the Somme River that the Canadian forces recorded one of the most dramatic breakthroughs of the First World War. The operation to storm the ridge was one of the best planned and executed raids in the history of modern warfare. It was a combination of the courage of Canadian troops and the vision of inspired leadership that broke German resistance and initiated the end of this bloody four year conflict.
I have more than an interest in the history of the event. My Uncle Oliver had fought a few miles further West of Vimy in the long and ghastly battle of the Somme. 
As a teenager it never occurred to me to question my Uncle about his experiences in the first World War. He might never have told me  about the battles any way. He was a man who for years was locked in the silence of his own memories. However, I do recall one comment that he made in a family discussion. It was brief.
As he exhaled on his cigarette he simply said "War is hell," and left it at that.
Sixty years later I need no elaboration.
 VIMY April 10th 1917.   LEST WE FORGET.

Ian.