Villagers

Village Inn at 8am every morning!

Summer Fete (6th June 2015)

 

Baron Joffe retires from the House of Lords as a Labour Peer (30th March 2015)

Joel Joffe of Liddington, a wonderful and supportive villager, has retired from the House of Lords. He was a Labour peer for many years.

It is timely to note that the BBC released all the Desert Island Disc programmes from its archives recently and it was wonderful to listen to Joel Joffe’s interview again. It was first broadcast on 2 November 2007 when Mandela was alive. For those of you who don’t know the story you must read Joel’s books, The Rivonia Story and The State Vs. Nelson Mandela: The Trial That Changed South Africa  and of course listen to the Desert Island Discs  programme.

Born in South Africa, Joel was educated at the University of Witwatersrand (BCom, LLB 1955), and worked as a human rights lawyer 1958–65, including as defence attorney of the leadership of the ANC at the 1963-4 Rivonia Trial, helping to represent Nelson Mandela. Later he moved to the United Kingdom, and worked in the financial services industry, setting up Hambro Life Assurance with Sir Mark Weinberg as well as in the voluntary sector. He was associated with Oxfam in various roles between 1982 and 2001, including being its Chair 1995–2001. He actively pursues a range of charitable activities as chair of the Joffe Charitable Trust.

In 2006 he was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Laws) from the University of Bath.

He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1999 New Year Honours, and made a life peer on 16 February 2000, being raised to the peerage as Baron Joffe, of Liddington in the County of Wiltshire. In February 2003 he proposed as a Private Member’s Bill the “Assisted Dying for the Terminally Ill Bill”, which would legalise physician-assisted dying. After deliberation by a Lords committee, the bill was put forward again in November 2005. On 12 May 2006 the Bill was debated once again in the House of Lords and an amendment to delay its introduction by six months was carried by a margin of 148–100. There is no doubt it will eventually pass but like all complex change it required a catalyst and that person was definitely Joel.

VILLAGE BLOG – Clean Up 28 March 2015

 

 

Big Rugby Day (15 March 2015)

Down at the Village Inn at 8am this morning to collect the paper. Maurice (good-looking bloke on left) and Mike (small bloke with big nose) had a good chat about the Ireland v Wales and England v Scotland games today. Mike is not betting after losing a fiver two weeks ago on the Ireland v England game.

Mike said: “It’s great

to start the day with a laugh.” This from a man who starts every day looking in the mirror.