Monday 22 August 2011

Brian Coleman protects his assets at the Friern Barnet summer show

Brian Coleman remonstrates with anti-cuts protestors outside Friern Barnet Summer Show 2011

Brian Coleman and lackey whupped by Mr Whippy
This weekend gone was the Friern Barnet summer show. I had flu and missed all manner of shenanigans but I've got some idea what went on through reports and pictures fed to me by EYE-WITNESSES.

The anti-cuts campaign, Barnet Alliance for Public Services (BAPS - one day I'll explain how we wound up with that lousy name) had initially planned to take a stall at the show. But then we were told at the 11th hour that we couldn't: we rather suspect that there was some POLITICAL INTERFERENCE in the matter.

For Councillor Brian Coleman AM has a big finger in the Friern Barnet summer show pie. The entry of his interests on the GLA webpage includes:
Friern Barnet Summer Show Limited (25% of the shared capital – no dividends) and Chairman of the Board of Directors (unremunerated)
It's not like Coleman to do anything unremunerated. What's going on? We can only think that one day he will hope to profit from his involvement with the enterprise. One day - soon? - when he is less in the public spotlight than he is now.

On Saturday and Sunday, I am told and there are pictures (above) to prove it, Coleman showed REMARKABLE ACTIVITY at the show.

He went and attempted to chase BAPS off from leafleting at the entrance to the show. And he REMONSTRATED WITH AN ICE-CREAM VAN outside the show. After all, they might be nicking trade off the van that had paid a fee to park inside.

Mrs Angry has a nice picture of Coleman checking on the VIP tent, taken by her daughter.

We don't know what hand Mr Coleman might have had in BAPS being chased off the showground on Sunday - I don't want to say too much about that yet as the BAPS banner is still being held hostage.

We can only assume that Coleman's frankly surprising willingness to get his hands dirty is a sign of the lengths he will go to in order to protect his own precious assets.

9 comments:

Mrs Angry said...

eeuew, Brian,same outfit Saturday AND Sunday?

Miss Angry thanks you for her picture credit.

Note the gypsy/traveller expert Councillor Rowan Turner helping Brian move people on ...

Oh, and somehow I don't think that is the first time Mr Coleman and Mr Whippy have met, do you?

Mr Mustard said...

The ice cream van is parked perfectly legally and allowed to trade as an itinerant trader.

Nothing on Barnet Council's website about ice-cream ( coming soon doubtless ) and this from Hillingdon Council

"People who own ice cream vans may trade as itinerant traders."

Perhaps Brian was just explaing the advantages to Mr Whippy of going cashless? But they will trace your movements and activities by your credit card Brian - don't go using it anywhere silly now.

Now where did Mr Mustard put that other cash alternative; those unused luncheon vouchers? He could post them on to a deserving cause?

Cynthia Payne (born 24 December 1932, in Bognor Regis, West Sussex) is a retired English party hostess who made the headlines in the 1970s and 1980s when she was accused of being a madam and of running her brothel at 32 Ambleside Avenue, Streatham.

Payne first came to national attention in 1978 when police raided her home and found a sex party was in progress. Elderly men paid in Luncheon Vouchers to dress up in lingerie and be spanked by young women. When the case came to trial in 1980, she was sentenced to eighteen months in prison, reduced to a fine and six months on appeal. She served four months in Holloway prison.

Mr Mustard's gluteus maximus are hurting today but that was just from too much gardening yesterday.

Citizen Barnet said...

Did you daughter take her picture on Sunday? These two were taken on Saturday.

I expect the explanation is that Brian didn't get to bed on Saturday night. He was probably too busy litter-picking into the small hours, changing the barrels in the beer tent, and sorting out the float for the next day. He'll turn his hand to anything when it's his cash that's upfront!

Mrs Angry said...

Vicki - no, we went late afternoon on Saturday, but it was raining, not like the photos. I have to say that we thought Brian was strangely underdressed, with no tie, waistcoat, or that swimming medal on a ribbon he likes to wear. Perhaps he was sulking because the Mayor was outflouncing him on her regal tour of the frankly rather small marrows and cucumbers in the produce tent.

Mr Mustard, you are very naughty. I had to look up gluteous whatever and I must say I am not sure I believe your story. I also think you know far too much about Cynthia Payne than is suitable for a gentleman of your refinement. The cleverest thing she did in my view was to find men willing to be slaves and do the hoovering. If you are looking for a similar position, you know where to apply.

Citizen Barnet said...

So maybe he blinged up on the Sunday. Since there were a lot of keen photographers about this weekend, perhaps someone else has a snap?

I'm looking forward to your report on Councillor Rowan Turner now, Mrs A, although I imagine he has a little way down the publishing schedule.

I love the picture of the ice-cream van, the man looks like he is giving Coleman a piece of his mind. What do you think he is saying: "No you can't have a flake AND raspberry sauce on your 99, greedy boy!"

Mr Mustard said...

It turns out that Ambleside Avenue is a very busy one way road as I drive down it when coming back from my girlfriend's allotment. That is as good as an excuse as you will read anywhere Mrs A. I also think parking might be quite hard although it isn't cashless as yet. Shoving your luncheon vouchers into the meter on a wet day must be quite a challenge.

Rosie said...

I was shocked and very upset at the way the Revd Adrian Benjamin treated the Barnet Alliance on Sunday - I thought I'd fallen asleep and woken up in a Police State. Outrageous that a man of the cloth could treat decent human beings like that.

Mrs Angry said...

Rosie: was this before or after the act of worship - the prayers, I mean, not the kneeling before Brian Coleman at the gate?

Vicki, the trouble with some of the Tory councillors is that they are either too boring or too keen to hide their naughty secrets. Mrs Angry is on their case, however.

Mr Mustard: I don't believe your excuse for one minute. Were you going up a one way street the wrong way, by any chance?

As for Mr Whippy, I believe Cllr Evangeli was very disppointed that he wouldn't sell him a cornetto.

Citizen Barnet said...

Were you a witness, Rosie? I wasn't there so I don't know how bad it got, although we do have some pictures - currently residing on someone's camera.

We have our Barnet Alliance meeting tomorrow night, so I think I will have a better idea of what went on after that. I don't want to comment too much before then, although I do know that we want our banner back!

It was taken and is currently missing.