COME ON Oswestry, you can do better than this. You went to some trouble to put up a plinth for local war hero Sgt Harold Whitfield - but fell at the last hurdle. As reader Sara Cox of Whittington pointed out in her scathing last week letter to the Advertizer, Sgt Whitfield was awarded the Victoria Cross for extreme bravery in 1918. But the plinth doesn’t even start to tell of his bravery.

He single handedly captured a Lewis light machine gun, by killing all three of its team, before swinging it round at the enemy.

None of this heroism is referred to on this pretty miserable effort. Any memorial, without a meaningful explanation is pointless - but luckily it’s not too late to makes amends. Just add some of Sara’s simple words, which I borrowed.

And try a damn sight harder, with more sincerity, when it comes to unveiling the statue to Oswestry’s celebrated war poet and soldier Wilfred Owen. Tributes are worthless unless the public know why they are there and in Sgt Whitfield’s case you don’t - and are left bemused.

‘Best’ year yet for town

OSWESTRY’S new mayor hits the nail on the head - saying next year promises to be ‘challenging but exciting’! She stressed every single decision her colleagues make, contributes to the town’s history. And, as an historian, Cllr Sandy Best prayed for ‘more good history than bad’.

She emphasised: “As a council we are in a very fortunate position in having a strong asset base, revenue and capital balances. Our common purpose is to build a strong and vibrant Oswestry.”

Mayor Sandy - with that added sense of history on your shoulder - we sense you’ll try your ‘Best’.

Justice must be seen

LET’S hope the brave actions of just one wise solicitor starts a ball rolling! Stephen Scully, a Shropshire court solicitor with Lanyon Bowdler, claims lawyers are concerned about remand hearings in Shropshire, shifting to Kidderminster. And an anonymous veteran JP, backs him up, saying it’s neither good for the people nor for justice.

Folk arrested can now be held in police cells for 24-hours awaiting a hearing, with only one bus a day taking them to Kidderminster. Justice should be done and be seen to be done - and it’s painfully clear it’s not with this senseless move.

Mother knows best

THE Advertizer family stretches back to 1855 and older readers may recall reporter Tony Lister, now living south of Alicante with wife Andreena, who emailed in to recall his 1957 interview as a cub reporter. Only16, he took along his mum.

My then editor dad Ted Parry-Jones, offered him £2 a week. ‘Mother immediately took him to task, explaining I had to travel to and from Ellesmere,’ said Tony. They settled on £2 and 10 shillings and Tony remained in journalism for 50 years.