Editorial “
I’m on the train !” How many times have we heard those words from someone speaking too loudly into a mobile phone. I’ve just heard that phrase as I am writing this returning from one of my regular trips to London on a late running train. This time the delay is not too bad, only 20 minutes, but this will make me late home and means my husband Alex will leave for an evening meeting before I get in. He commutes regularly by train from Leamington Spa to Birmingham and like millions of others, has to contend with an unpredictable service every day. Does it really need to be like this ?
Providing effective public transport, especially in rural areas, seems to be the conundrum of the age. Everybody has suggestions but nobody has the answer. Plans are put in place, new things tried but never for very long it seems and then on to the next thing. At this point I am reminded of a quote from the popular and ever relevant comedy programme Yes Minister. Jim Hacker is being driven to a meeting and his chauffeur comments that if politicians and private secretaries had to use public transport to get around then the service would be much better and run on time. Maybe there is something in that. However it applies for us too.
We all say we want better public transport – are we who have access to cars prepared to give up our hermetically sealed, emissions creating personal transport machines and throw in our lot with the local bus service, or get on our bikes… Current lifestyles suggest that this is unlikely to happen for the majority of people. Christians may wish to take a different view of our responsibility for the environment and think carefully about whether a journey is really necessary. A long drive could be replaced by a train or a coach, we could walk to see our friends in the village and not take the car. Allowing extra time to walk or cycle allows us to appreciate God’s wonderful
countryside and in our rushed lives may give us much needed breathing space to engage more fully with God. Try walking to church one morning. This act of witness is there for all to see, especially for many of us who live within comfortable walking distance of the village church.
The blurred headlights of cars travelling down the M1 distract my attention from the loud voice still talking into the mobile phone further up the carriage. This stretch of railway runs next to the M1 and the Grand Union Canal, once the M1 of 18th and 19th century Britain. This juxtaposition of speeds and choices of transport is a reminder of how things change and the priorities we have for reaching our final destination. Part of our responsibilities in the journey through life to our ultimate destination is to be aware of the needs and requirements of others. Helping others to get around may mean we have to sacrifice convenience, roll
our sleeves up and get involved at the very local level by sharing our resources, giving up the car for every eventuality and using public transport where we can. Nobody says it will be easy though. n
Jill Hopkinson, Editor
A new Rural Advocate and a new President of the Royal Agricultural Society
The Chairman of the New Countryside Agency and the next Rural Advocate is Revd Dr Stuart Burgess (left). He retired as Chair of the York and Hull Methodist District in 2004. Rural proofing of Government policies will be a particular concern. On his appointment, Dr Burgess said: “The Countryside Agency is going through a period of change. Its role remains vitally important to rural communities and I hope to steer the organisation with energy and vision.”
The Bishop of Ely, the Rt. Revd Anthony Russell has been appointed President of the Royal Agricultural Society of England for 2004-2005. n
www.arthurrankcentre.org.uk
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