Mysterious Milton Keynes Naval Cadet Corps o er Executive Officer I am writing to you in reference to my visit to your office the other day. I am the Executive Officer of the Naval Cadet Corps, which started in Bletchley some 1 9 years ago with three cadets. After a year, we moved to Bletchley Park and opened a unit called TS Invincible, which was opened by The Princess Royal, and the latest headcount is now over 60 cadets. Two years ago, we started TS Ocean in Leighton Buzzard and they are now up to 40 cadets and going strong. On 25th October we opened another Unit called TS Albion at Emberton Park Olney, and that is running with seven cadets and increasing all the time. We suppo Emberton and Olney by doing the car parking at Dickens of a Christmas and helping at Emberton Park. We are looking for more young recruits from the age of 1 2-1 8 years of age, and instructors to assist us, ex-service would be a bonus but not necessary. We parade on Mondays and Thursdays, 6.45pm- 9pm. The activities the Corp can offer are: boating, sailing, canoeing, camping, field craft, basic first aid, cooking and seamanship. If you are interested in joining us please contact Commander Dave Moth on 07732325728. Street Lighting Ruth Clarke Surely now it's appropriate to switch street lighting off during the night, as I suggested 20 years ago and was ridiculed for. I feel sure that, explained that more money would be available to fill in potholes in the roads, people would accept very quickly. There is a pothole on the road from Carlton (Beds) to Harrold Bridge, which is a hazard to vehicles, and a mo al danger to two wheeled travellers; huge and almost impossible to avoid. The lights on Drift Way in Olney (Bucks) are totally unnecessary at any time, but ce ainly at night, and no vehicles pass through Harrold between midnight and 05:00 hours. In any case, it is easier to see a vehicle approaching in a dark stretch than light- their headlights are visible long before the car/van itself. Disgrace for Remembrance Sunday 10th November was a day where we should have all given remembrance to those who lost their lives for us. I was down at the rugby club, suppo ing a friends' son who was playing in a friendly game. At 1 0.55am they stopped the game and players from each side, coaches and referee, stood along the hallway line to prepare for remembrance. With reference to the article on "Mysterious Milton Keynes" in the November Phonebox, I feel that your contributor has misrepresented the Milton Keynes Medicine Wheel (stone circle at Willen Park). The Medicine Wheel was constructed and inaugurated by people of a range of backgrounds; including representatives of Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, Pagan and Jewish faiths. It was created to commemorate the Millennium as common ground for all, because until we find what's common amongst us there will never be peace. It is intended as a place where people come together to share this vision, and belief in a better world, a future of cooperation and justice. We share a desire for peace, within us and between us, and for reconciliation of the peoples of the ea h. Anyone is welcome. The Medicine Wheel is based on a Native American tradition and layout, creating a space for communication and meditation. The MK wheel com bines elements of this and the ancient English trad ition of standing stones. It also incorporates sym bolism of other faiths and traditions; for example, it consists of 1 08 stones, a number significant to Hindu and Buddhist. The design represents universal imagery: the four seasons, four corners of the earth (directions), circles - the cycle of life, the inner world and the outer physical world, and the chal ice symbol of renewal and plenty. There are a number of people to whom this is a special place, whether they come as part of a group or spend time alone here. There have been Easter vigils, music nights, meditations, dances, yoga, and even wedding vows exchanged. The fire is lit to celebrate significant days of the calendar. If Mr Willis had extended his research as far as the noticeboards by the Medicine Wheel, then he may have discovered that it has an interesting story beyond the sensational. Peter & Sylvie Goss How much money are MI< Council wasting? I live in Cold Brayfield. On Thursday 7th November 2013, I won a small claims case at Milton Keynes Count Court against Milton Keynes County Council. I hit a massive Pothole on 30th March 201 3 on the B565, which punctured my two passenger side tyres. I had to contact a mobile tyre company who charged me £235. Ten minutes after I had my accident, another car did exactly the same thing. I contacted the police and they informed the Highways agency, and the Pothole was filled in that evening. I made an insurance claim for £235, but it was rejected by Zurich on 30th May 2013 as they did not admit liability. So I decided to take them to the small claims court. You may be wondering where this is all going? Well, six months on, I have had at least 20 letters from DWF Milton Keynes solicitor in London (Hazel James) defending their claim . They spent £45 trying to amend their defence on the morning of 7th November - the Judge rejected it! A London Barrister (Defending the case) in attendance at my hearing on 7th November, which lasted two 32 PhoneboxMagazine Lisa Cox and half hours (Mr Clark) as well as the Highways Inspector for Milton Keynes (Mr Richard Gladman) were in attendance. The reason I won my case was through a lot of hard work, determ ination and research. I found another person (Mr Richard Haworth) who hit exactly the same Pothole (Photographic evidence) four days before me on 26th March 201 3. Mr Haworth reported the dangerous Pothole to the council on 27th March (along with three other claims on the same day) but they did nothing about it. He made a claim for £900 for tyre damage against the council - AND WON! His email from the insurance company Zurich on 30th May 201 3 (the same day they didn't admit liability to me!!) admits liability. What I want to know, is just how much money they spent defending this case, bearing in mind they had already admitted liability six months earlier over the same Pothole? I believe the residents and Council taxpayers of Milton Keynes (including myself) have a right to know exactly how they are wasting our money? I not only got my £235 back, but with costs awarded too!