Something positive from something negative

Hello everyone!!! Probably a surprise to suddenly hear from me after 6 months!!! Hope you're all having a good 2017. Some of you, particularly if you have seen my Facebook postings, will be aware. For those of you who are not, the local media in East Anglia (About Anglia on ITV and the Eastern Daily Press (EDP), which is primarily a regional/local paper for Norfolk and north Suffolk) have reported the matter of Phil Bunning who has complained to Sainsbury's about two employees, at its Sprowston (Norwich), branch service station, making fun of his stammer. I submitted a letter to the EDP, which has appeared today (p.16) and is nicely 'backed up' by an excellent "Opinion" article by Steve Downes (p.15): "If you like to poke fun at a stammer then shame on you." To add to how pleasing it is, Steve Downes supports our view about "Still Open All Hours." Strictly accurately he refers to the original "Open All Hours," but it amounts to the same thing. If you live in the EDP's circulation area but don't usually receive it I hope you're persuaded to part with £1.80!!! As far as I can make out, unfortunately it's not available online. That said, not being sure how it works, it might be because it's just today and particularly being Saturday. The website is www.edp24.co.uk. If you are reading this after Saturday, if you are able to get to the office of one of the Archant group local papers there will probably be EDP back copies on display. Possibly the website might be worth a try after Saturday. The text of my letter: "As someone who stammers, and I am sure for many others who do, Phil Bunning’s experience at Sprowston Sainsbury’s petrol station (EDP July 11) is no surprise. In fairness, because of the lack of awareness of stammering, many people genuinely misinterpret it and joke with you about it meaning well. They interpret it as some sort of ‘silly moment.’ The ‘crunch’ however is when explaining you stammer and whether they apologise or take offence. In Mr Bunning’s case it seems they ignored him. There is an irony in those employees thinking he had been drinking. It compares to the ‘classic’ case of the lady who stammers who went to a pub bar. Her stammer was interpreted as her having had too much to drink so they refused to serve her. When she stammered trying to explain she stammers they thought she was winding them up so told her to leave. While some find that ironically amusing it is not a joke, it really happened. Another recent case is the lady in Stone, Staffordshire, who complained about a bus driver laughing at her stammer. The online comments made about her were disgraceful. Of course they were made by cowards hiding behind pseudonyms, not having the courage to put their names to letters in the Stoke Sentinel, which reported it, or say such things in public. Speaking in public is not something those of us who stammer can avoid completely, even if just to pay for petrol or order a round." All very pleasing! Best regards. John