ON the one hand there is the protagonist who refuses to leave the stage; on the other the group that appears to be bowing out prematurely.
The former is Cllr James Byrnes who refuses to stand down despite admitting stealing from his employer, Budgens in Otterbourne, as revealed last week in the Chronicle.
It is a very sad state of affairs as a talented relatively young man with a lot to offer has been bought down by his own actions. It really is difficult to see how he can remain on the city council with any ounce of credibility.
Cllr Byrnes declines to publicly discuss what happened and why. He may well find that there is public understanding, even sympathy, if he revealed what lay behind the theft. He appears to be in a state of some denial.
Leaving the stage far too early are the former pupils of Winchester County High School for Girls, the grammar school that closed in 1973. They met for the last time on Saturday saying everyone was getting too old to carry on. They say better to quit while they are ahead instead of petering away.
But looking at the photographs of the school reunion on the front page and page 8 of today’s issue, everyone looks to have years, if not many decades, ahead of them.
It would be a shame if the reunions stopped. Reminiscing and re-forging old bonds is one of the under-rated pleasures of life.
http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/15279355.Civic_chief_is_sacked_following_theft/
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