There's something going wrong in the UK. The people who rule us are in denial, they tell us 'things aren't too bad' and reassure us that the inequalities we have are not too serious and after all, we're a 'civilised Country' That's what they say. However, for all the talk of progress it is obvious that here in Liverpool, the elderly are victims of a system of social care and provision which is failing them completely. This magnificent generation fought to make things better and now we abandon them as the next paragraph will illustrate clearly.

Old Lady - 9 years in nursing home and no visitors.

As the politicians talk of 'progress' and local Councillors slap each other on the back for a job well done, the reality seems to be different. On the 21st of October 2003, another one of Liverpool's 'forgotten people' was cremated in Springfield crematorium. An old age pensioner who we would never have been known had her sad death not been mentioned on the Billy Butler Radio Show. Billy's had a bit of stick on Kirkby Times (so has everyone!) but he bought this sad news to our attention on his popular afternoon radio show. It was not an official news item - he was phoned up or contacted by some nurses in a nursing home who were the only mourners at this funeral. Her name was Edie Carran (apologies for any incorrect spelling) and she spent 9 years without a single visitor in the 9 years she had spent in the nursing home. What the hell are the Idiots in Liverpool City Council and Social Services playing at? We talk about a Capital of Culture yet it seems that wondrous event has blinded us as to the grim Capital of Abuse to the Elderly we have created here in Liverpool. We have thousands of unemployed who could be trained to visit the care homes - but will there be a public inquiry as to how this old woman ended up abandoned by this so called civilised Country? Or the hundreds of others threw out of care homes to practically die! We are not as civilised as we think - are we? The 9 nurses at the funeral of Edie Carran would perhaps agree. We can only thank the brilliant staff who dedicate themselves to the elderly.

Memorial to Annie Sanderson Vandalised.

Another old woman who this website has reported on was Annie Sanderson - who died in mysterious circumstances and atrocious conditions in a Tower Block in Kirkby. It is my sad duty to report that a memorial to Annie was vandalised and a flower vase and other items stolen, maybe threw out the window. The memorial was wrecked and personal messages left were stolen, and a silver covering tore off the front of the memorial. All that's left is a wooden frame and the dried flowers, which still looked nice in the vase. I will repair the damage and ask that Knowsley Housing Trust remove rubbish on the floor (the 2nd floor) Photos of the new memorial will be published soon as it's built. Luckily I have photos of the personal messages which were left on the memorial and can type them out and replace them - so the damage will be repaired. It's just sad that some idiot or lowlife wrecked the memorial in the first place. I know it's not much to remember Annie by, but it was a nice gesture and myself and other decent good tenants were grateful to the person who set up the memorial in the first place.

Respect for the Elderly?

It's about time we woke up to what's going on - there's no respect for the elderly in the UK anymore - and its no use any of us simply moaning at the politicians. YES - they are to blame - but they are not going to help our pensioners. Only WE can do that - by supporting them 100% in their struggle to get the pensions they deserve and the medical help they require and in all aspects of there wellbeing. It's about time us Working Class people stood up for ourselves. It's about time we had something in Kirkby which could unite all us Working Class who want to change the community we live in. In a few days - we launch the Kirkby Times forums which will also allow YOU to debate the issues that matter and the things that count. Then we can act. We are not alone - there are many working class people out there who have been through what we are going through. The forums will be a useful way in which to campaign for and promote positive community action. Join us.