Thank you, angels

April 27, 2007

Dear Sir,

I sustained a minor injury on Front Street on Wednesday evening and I would like to commend all those who jumped into action, helping to get the horses on their feet and calmed down before they could go any further into the crowd, lifting the carriage off those pinned underneath, the doctors and nurses in the crowd who came to assist. It was handled extremely well by those officials on hand and a job well done by the police, the fire department, the ambulance personnel and the hospital personnel. There were the strangers who helped strangers, the ordinary who became heroes, and the angels among us.

In those horrific seconds I lost sight of my daughter, I thought she was under the horses, beneath the carriage or under one of the injured. Debbie, you grabbed her and kept her safe, you comforted her while I was injured and in shock, you took her to the hospital to meet me there, you let her use your cell phone, you stayed with her while I saw the doctor, Debbie Martin you are my hero. It was a very traumatic experience, now we heal, we deal with our emotions, haunted by “what if”, we move forward.

“It was an accident waiting to happen” — that is what an accident is — and life is waiting to happen, whether good or bad.

Think of all the tragic motorized vehicular accidents which have happened in Hamilton in the past — girl killed by fire truck, man on crosswalk killed by drunk driver, car rolled down hill into TCD offices, man killed when container toppled off of truck, girl seriously injured when car ran red light, etc. — motorised vehicles haven’t been banned from the city.

On Harbour Nights perhaps keep the carriages behind the bank, tether the horses securely to railings when driver is not in the seat holding reigns, put up barricades — and what about during the day.

Might there be a way for a shuttle to take visitors wanting a Bermuda Buggy Ride to the Botanical Gardens and somehow have a loop created with no motorised vehicles allowed on it. A stop at a “roach coach” for a sampling of Bermudian cuisine, point out Masterworks, the gift shop, build a lovely fountain where they could throw in coins (for a local charity), and along the way the driver could talk about Bermuda without having to yell above the noise of the traffic, breath in exhaust fumes, and worry about that large cement truck bearing down on his horses. I was against the hospital development, but I would not be against putting “Carriages in the Gardens”

BARBIE SHANKS

You’re wrong, Mr. Darrell

April 16, 2007

Dear Sir,

Here is your answer, Mr. Darrell (from your letter to The Royal Gazette, Friday April 13), on just how much Mrs. Louise Jackson has given and done over a period of 50 years plus, to dancers who attended the Jackson School of Performing Arts.

In 1953, Louise Jackson started a dance programme with approximately 40 students. This was held after school at the Berkeley Institute, free of charge. Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Gayle then allowed her to use their lounge at the Sunset Lodge, in exchange for free lessons for their two daughters. The original Berkeley students continued on free of charge. Some of these dancers went on to become physical education teachers and dance teachers.

Beginning in the fifties and continuing today, many many children were and are given partial and full scholarships. Yearly recitals began in the fifties, when a significant number of scholarships are awarded after the last night of the recital.

Dame Jennifer Smith, Linda Manders, Suzette Harvey, Lizz Pimental, are just a sample who enjoyed full scholarships from the age of 11 or 12 years old until they left the school.

Scholarships were and are also given to children from the Sunshine League, Brangman Home and to any foster child who wants to dance. No child has ever been turned away because of lack of funds. Up until 1999, the Jackson School had been giving approximately $12,000 worth of scholarships a year. Today that number has grown to approximately $20,000.

The Jackson School has also always given donations over the years to charities. Just last year the School donated $2,000 to the Salvation Army.

I would also like to point out, that as far as I know all the dance schools on the island give many many scholarships to the children who want to dance but cannot afford to. It’s the nature of our business!

On another note, for your information, Mrs. Jackson donates her parliamentary salary increase to the Salvation Army and other charities.

So, I hope this answers your question/accusation Mr. Darrell. Next time you should really check your facts before writing things you know nothing about.

JEANNE LEGERE

Owner/Director

Jackson School of Performing Arts