Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
3 December 2008
16:2910207On behalf of Dover Town Council, I congratulate our local media for its measured coverage of the story concerning the phoney purporting to be Francis Rossi of Status Quo. Would that the recent national-media, feeding frenzy had shown similar consideration for facts! The Council deplores the national publicity for this 18-month old story, which was mostly incorrect and without credibility.
Considerable costs have been incurred, in terms of both money and time, for the required verification of all Council decisions/expenditure and usage of the Civic car, to ensure the accuracy of the statement that I now make.
Therefore, to reassure Dover ratepayers, concerning this matter, I confirm on behalf of the Council that:
a) it has not been duped in any way;
b) it has authorised no expenditure;
c) it has had no dealings with the imposter;
d) it has not been involved in any negotiations with or on behalf of any charlatan;
e) records confirm that there has been no unauthorised usage of the Mayoral car.
The inaccurate coverage has damaged the reputation both of our Town and of the Town Council. It is particularly sad that, as the Council forges ahead on so many fronts, on behalf of Dover, that one person's disaffection has so sabotaged our efforts, and those of our many partners, by taking this non-story to a national tabloid. Given the seriousness of the situation, the Town Council is considering its options, with initial steps already underway.
Michael Webb
TOWN CLERK
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
3 December 2008
16:3310208I have requested the above statement from Town Clerk Mike Webb and here it is truly arrived ( above). It has been also released to the Newspapers and is also available to see on the Town Councils website.
Although this topic has been previously discussed at length please feel free to add your comment on this the latest news.
I think its fair to say that our ol friend Vic Matcham would not be current flavour of the month at the DTC.
Guest 643- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,321
3 December 2008
17:5910218Yes I saw this report from Mike Webb in the Your Dover.
Like Mike I feel very sad that one person can do so much harm to Dover. Maybe those who shouted me down with accusations that Vic is a harmless joker with Dovers good at heart can now see that I was right! He wouldn't answer repeated requests from Mandie to come out and say if the stories about it being him that took the story to The Sun were true or not which speaks volumes. So this has backfired on him and caused Mike and DTC a lot of extra work. I'm so glad Mike has issued his statement so maybe some people will now realise that this silly action has caused nothing but trouble and extra work for DTC and made Dover look like a laughing stock. Loose cannon are the words that spring to mind - I hope he's satisfied - his silence speaks volumes.
There's always a little truth behind every "Just kidding", a little emotion behind every "I don't care" and a little pain behind every "I'm ok".
3 December 2008
19:2410229I don't recall anyone shouting you down, just disagreeing with you, which I think is still allowed. And I still think that over-reaction is a poor response, even with the back story of inconvenience and expense. there are better ways to manage things.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
3 December 2008
20:2010241mike has just said what we all knew.
no money from the public coffers was spent.
it was all free publicity.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
3 December 2008
21:0710251I am not inhiding just alot of work on at this time there might be more to be said from me but not now in the new year.
I remain yours faithfully as always.
Vic Matcham.
Guest 650- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 542
3 December 2008
21:1910252Interestingly, reading this statement, it seems to me that what our Town Clerk is saying is that any problems and/or costs arose through "inaccurate coverage" in the national press.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
3 December 2008
21:3610254why would costs arise through "inaccurate coverage" in the national press?
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
3 December 2008
22:4810264O.K. It can not wait till the new year.
Heading on the Dover Express some time ago now.
Rocking, ALL OVER TOWN.
Exclusive report.
Some of the biggest names in music could be heading to Dover for a huge charity gig, the Express can reveal.
The event would form part of the town council,s year-long Festival of Dover 2008 which aims to promote the area to visitors and residents.
Talks are already underway with rock legends Status Quo and, although nothing has yet been signed a senior source close to the event saidthey are "Extremely optimistic"
The source said"We are very pleased with the way the talks are going.Bringing the band to Dover would be utterly fantastic-we could fill any venue 100 times over.
A number of locations for the gig are being explored, with the possibility for the gig,it counld end up at the football ground in Crabble.
Status Quo- made up of lead singer Francis Rossi,
guitarist Rick Parfitt, keyboard player Andrew Bown, bass player John "Rhino" Edwards and drummer Matt Letley have sold more than 118million records worldwide.
The band, whose best know songs include Rockin All over the World"and Whatever you Want, has had hits every decade from the 60s to the nounghties, and has appeared on Top of the pops more than any other group in the shows history. The Express understands they could be joined on stage by a host of other big names.
Those being approached include a member of Queen and a former Beatle.
The source added."This has the potential to be the biggest event Dover has ever hosted.
To say we are all excited would be a huge understatement"
That is the end also with this was a big photo of the band.
"SO WHAT"you might say, the thing is i was not that source.I was at work and my phone went off on the other end I was told that this story was going to be put in the paper at the end of the week I was told by that same person "The express are with me now and the paper told that person that it must go in this week because other papers might hear of it and beat them to it.
I told them over the phone not to, I say that again Not to go ahead with it, at that time I did not know what they where going to put in the story, I left work in time to go to the office of the Express and aske them in person please please do not put that story in the paper yet because nothing add been comfirm and that I was still looking into it all and trying to get my head around it all, things were moving on and I could not keep up with it all and my work aswell,I do know who that sources was and it was not a cllr only a very few cllrs know of this and like today did not say a word and I thank them all for that, all they were trying to do was help.
Anyway the paper told me they were going ahead with the story and they did and I must tell you all now I did not have anything to do with the above story in this post going into the paper at that time and did not know what was going into it till like you I read it in the paper at the end of the week,and please remember at that time I DID think that I was talking to Francis Rossi who told me if it did go into the paper before the band was ready to come they will not go ahead with the event, afater it went in I was called all the names under the sun by him, I said O k, we will call it all off but He told me no, that he understands how I was feeling about it and that he would talk to the band,I done alot of very long days and nights over trying to put all of it together for Dover.
THERE stills lots more to say about this but again not at this time, only to say that at that time I had lots of help from cllrs of the D,T.C. with out them I could not have carried on with it all.And the staff of the D.T.C. were also very helpful.
Again I wii not name the source who gave the story to the Express, and again the paper only put in their story what they were told again the Dover Express has help me over the years, to get out things I was trying to do at that time and I thank them for that to.
I remain yours faithfully Vic Matcham.
Added: I have knocked this into shape but have not changed any of the content. PB
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
3 December 2008
22:5710266victor
i am trying to understand your post here.
are you trying to say that someone has spun a yarn for the local press, or are you saying that a major act is winging its way to dover?
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
3 December 2008
23:2810270please go over it again howard.
This is what happen at that time not as it is today.
The express did know that i was trying to get the band to come to Dover then but could not wait till it had all been confirmed by me but as we all now know the story was a con, but at that time it all looked good.
Vic M
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
3 December 2008
23:3710272Just to add to this , when you read a book you do not look at the back page first you read the story from the front and then by the time you get to the back page you can understand all of it and get the ending right.
Vic Matcham
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
3 December 2008
23:3710273i thought that you were referring to a new story vic.
my apologies, you must admit that you sometimes do not make yourself very clear.
maybe that is why you are planning to stand as a euroMP.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,695
3 December 2008
23:4510275Ok Vic so you didn't give the initial story to the press
But who then told the Sun about it only recently?
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
3 December 2008
23:5210277there seem to be many local people that have admitted contact with the national press.
it all reminds me of that andy warhol comment about everyone having 15 minutes of fame.
it might be best to read back on the original threads on the subject, then all will become clear.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
4 December 2008
00:1310278Ross thank you for your post, but let me take one step at a time please.
Vic Matcham
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
4 December 2008
08:0410281Thank you for that Vic.
So we know it wasn't you who broke the original story a year or so ago; but was it you who broke the story to the Sun newspaper recently ?
Was it you who gave Graham the £1000 to give to Blackfish ?
Who had the money when it was refused by Blackfish ?
It just doesn't ring true that a "non-wealthy" part-time worker gives a £1,000 of his own money to a local Charity - Blackfish.
I can undertstand that you may have been embarrassed (and there's nothing wrong with that) about what was not happening with Staus Quo and thought it would look better if this guy gives a £1,000 (of your money) to Blackfish and then leaves - it would still look good; but now it has just fallen flat.
That would also be a good reason to sell your story to the Sun, so you can get your money back - £1,000 is a lot to lose.
What really happened Vic ? - I know you are not a malicious man - a caring man at heart.
Roger
4 December 2008
08:2510282Truth is a very subjective entity..........
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
4 December 2008
09:0210287Well this isnt getting any clearer because Vic's version is at odds with the one from the Town Clerk, or so it seems. Vic insists he had
"lots of help"
from Town Councillors and Town Council staff. So were they duped?? Or does helping Vic in this matter qualify as dupement?? (Im not sure if the word dupement exists but Im sure you get what I mean.)
Rogers questions to Vic are also very valid. So the fog remains.
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
4 December 2008
09:1010290Thank you for that Roger But as I have already said one step at a time, at that time all I was trying to do,was for the town not me because as you put it it went flat it was bad luck and bad judgment by me and I also said that before and in doing so let Cllrs on the D.T.C. and the public down and yes my family as well and I will have to live with that.
I remain yours faithfully Vic Matcham