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| Britain | |
| Soldier refused room at hotel | |
| 2008-09-04 | |
| Cpl Tomos Stringer, from Gwynedd, north-west Wales, was turned away from the Metro Hotel in Woking, Surrey. He had travelled to the area to help with preparations for the funeral of a friend killed in action and needed to stay over night. After showing his army pass when asked for identification by the hotel's receptionist, Cpl Stringer was told "we don't accept military personnel here" and that this was "company policy", according to his mother Gaynor. He spent the night in his car after failing to find any other available accomodation late on a Sunday evening, she said.
"It's a disgrace. He is in Afghanistan for the third time and has been in Iraq twice and this is the way he is treated," Mrs Stringer said. "I can't believe this has happened to one of our soldiers in his own country. He just didn't know how to react," "These lads are on the front line, putting their life on the line every day. And in their own country they are treated like this - I think it's outrageous. "Lads here are frightened of wearing their uniform when they come home - you hear that they are spat at. We've been to America and their military get treated like heroes. I think it's terrible they can't even wear their uniform with pride." Mrs Stringer said her son had travelled back to Britain from Afghanistan to have a wrist re-set. He broke it after falling from his truck when it came under fire. "All he has ever wanted to do is be in the Army. He was in the cadets and then signed up when he was 16. He told me he would die for his Queen and country and he just wants to make a difference," said Mrs Stringer. Derek Twigg, a Defence Minister, said: "This case is especially egregious given that the individual concerned was on injury leave from Afghanistan and visiting an injured colleague. "The Government and, it is fair to say, the vast majority of people in this country, hold the professionalism, courage and contribution made by all those who serve, and have served in the armed forces in very high regard. "I am delighted that the armed forces generally enjoy immense respect and gratitude on the part of the nation and that contrary sentiments are rare, though evidently they exist." A spokesman at the Metro Hotel said it was not currently commenting on the incident. | |
| Posted by:Delphi |
| #7 tipover, members of the cabinet have been banned from every pub in the country, so they couldn't get bought a drink. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2008-09-04 15:42 |
| #6 I'd love to see that Defense Minister wear an enlisted mans uniform for a week in normal environs for the typical soldier. Might be an eye opener for him. |
| Posted by: tipover 2008-09-04 13:56 |
| #5 The "receptionist on duty at the time" got the idea from somewhere. Anyway, the only thing I want to hear is "receptionist on duty at the time has been FIRED." |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-09-04 13:46 |
| #4 After a resolute silence, the hotel, owned by a company called American Amusements, issued a statement. “The Metro Hotel, Woking, sincerely regrets any upset caused towards Corporal Stringer and his family. The hotel management has always had an open-door policy to all its visitors and guests, including members of the military and Armed Forces.” The statement said that the receptionist on duty at the time had made a mistake. Perhaps the receptionist was a member of No Particular Religion? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-09-04 13:42 |
| #3 Bet the proprietors of Metro Hotel are members of No Particular Religion. Just your average hostilers, as it were. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2008-09-04 13:17 |
| #2 Tommy by Kipling I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer, The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here." The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die, I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I: O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away"; But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play, The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play, O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play. I went into a theatre as sober as could be, They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me; They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls, But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls! For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside"; But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide, The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide, O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide. Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap; An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit. Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?" But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll, The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll, O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll. We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too, But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you; An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints, Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints; While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind", But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind, There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind, O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind. You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all: We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational. Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace. For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!" But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot; An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please; An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees! Some things never change |
| Posted by: DLR 2008-09-04 11:07 |
| #1 I'm not at all sure that "contrary sentiments are rare" in the U.K. |
| Posted by: Jolutch Mussolini7800 2008-09-04 11:00 |