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Editorial Committee
Chairman: Graham Virgo
Production Editor: Jackie Hough
Advertising: Claire Twydell,
email:twydell@btinternet.com
The Gazette now has its own email address: email: GamlingayGazette@tesco.net
The Gazette is produced on a PC using Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher. If you are providing a disc, and are not using Microsoft Word, please save your file as a TEXT file not in your word processor’s native format. Thank you.
Your letters and items for articles can also be dropped in at the Village College Library. Just mark them for The Gazette.
Every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the items included but the views expressed do not necessarily
represent the views of the Committee.
Internet Version:
HTML code hand coded by Roderick Starksfield
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| Gamlingay Resource Centre | 01767
650169 |
| Opening hours | |
| Monday | 17:00 – 19:30 |
| Tuesday | 18.00 – 20.00 |
| Wednesday | 17.00 – 21.00 |
| Thursday | 18.00 – 20.00 |
| Friday | CLOSED |
| Saturday | 11.30 – 13.30 |
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was lucky enough to be present at the opening of Biggleswade's new skatepark.
What a marvellous facility for the youth of the town! It has taken a great deal of time, effort and dedication on the part of many people, adults and youngsters, to turn the dream of a skatepark into reality. Sandy man, Ken Lynch, has been instrumental in bringing the project to fruition, and Ken is now working with a dedicated group of young Gamlingay skaters, with the aim of setting up a skatepark on the Community Centre field.
There have been teething problems with Biggleswade's skatepark but I'm sure these can be settled so that all parties, both residents who live nearby, and the kids who have been so enthusiastically using the facility, are satisfied.
The old adage that "children should be seen and not heard" is one that, thankfully, is given little credibility these days. Most of us now accept that youngsters form a section of society with human rights, just like any other. They cannot, and should not, be ignored, neglected, unjustly rebuked, hushed into silence or restrained to the point of total inertia.
Perched on the railing surrounding Biggleswade's skatepark, I was struck by the sheer energy, the fervent enthusiasm and whole-hearted dedication shown by the youngsters using the park - a welcome antithesis to the lethargic and apathetic 'Kevin and Perry' image we have grown to associate with young people! It felt as though the air had a charge of electricity - positive rather than negative - and it was infectious.
Gamlingay is a great little place - it has wonderful community spirit, vitality, activity, character and history. And a whole load of youngsters with nothing to do. Let's not fall into the trap of believing that their needs are non-existent, or that they can be overlooked. A skatepark will give them somewhere to go, somewhere they can be proud of, and somewhere they can call their own. Not to mention a channel for excess energy.
Nevertheless, antisocial behaviour by youngsters (and other age groups!) is a problem which should be neither ignored nor tolerated. A line must be drawn between youthful high spirits and thuggishness. I have experienced the feelings of frustration, anger, hurt and helplessness brought on by vandalism, excessive noise, littering, abuse and other disruptive conduct. Those who act with such a lack of consideration towards others must be identified and dealt with, and this is an issue for the police.
Let's not fall into the trap, though, of believing that all young people are ignorant, mindless 'wasters' just because a few believe they are above the law and that society's rules do not apply to them. Instead, let's get behind the young people of Gamlingay in their quest to improve youth facilities in the village. Let's give them our steadfast support and positive encouragement. Let's believe in them, champion their cause, praise their achievements and, in doing so, show them how to be tomorrow's caring, compassionate, informed and socially responsible adults
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