LETTERS
From Jill Shaw, Chillerton:
SPEAK as you find, don’t they say?
I first met David Pugh at a parish council meeting and he subsequently agreed to answer some informal questions for our parish newsletter.
I met him again at the reception for the Land Army (LA) girls in December 2008 and asked him if he would spare just a couple of minutes to come and say hello to two of Chillerton’s former LA girls and he was more than happy to do this.
He sat and chatted to them and other LA girls for half an hour or so and it was clear they enjoyed his company hugely. His only crime on that day was eating my scone, although he did leave me the mince pie!
Councillors and politicians are only human. We all have ups and downs in our private lives, fortunately ours are not splashed across newspaper pages (CP, 19-02-10).
From John Coueslant, Brading:
Sacking time: I must say I was shocked to see the swearing allegedly by Cllr Pugh on the You Tube video.
To swear at anyone is wrong and especially if you are the leader of the IW Council.
There is no excuse and to swear at the Island MP’s parliamentary secretary is a sackable offence, I believe.
Cllr Pugh should resign his post if he is a gentleman, or be removed from his post for "behaviour which demeans a public office", surely a sackable offence.
From John Gallard, Totland:
A for English, D for…: So there we have it! David Pugh has a good grasp of the far reaches of the English language. Pity he has not the same grasp of running a council within budget.
From Jilly Wood, Wroxall:
Dignity personified: I would like to comment on the coverage (CP 19-02-10) of Cllr David Pugh at the chairman’s charity ball.
I was at on the same table as Cllr Pugh. The evening was a great success with many thousands of pounds raised.
I worked with David Pugh for over four years and in all that time I have never observed him acting with anything other than the utmost dignity. He has always been courteous and generous in his support for everyone.
The events you reported were the result of a few people who chose to act in an irresponsible manner and Cllr Pugh reacted in the heat of the moment, everyone makes a mistake at some point in their lives and I do think the matter should now be left and lessons learned.