Theft at Ficksburg

[Chris Janisch]

Readers should be aware of a terrible theft at Sandstone's Ficksburg 3ft6in storage facility. 15F 2910 and 15CB 2071 were stripped of virtually all their brass and copper in a daring raid.
The sad story can be viewed on the website www.sandstone-estates.com

[Luca Lategan]

This is indeed a heartbreaking story.

[Tom Macrery]

Indeed Awful! Was there no security at the site? Scrap dealers are largely to blame.

[Dylan Knott]

Indeed this is very sad! I feel sorry for the Sandstone team as they work so hard and then this happens.
I recall an incident at the old Dal Josafat shed where I saw a person trying to cut the clackbox off a 15CA. Threw a piece of ballast at his head, but missed!
Needless to say "I pity the fool that tries to steal items at our depot"!

[Steve Appleton]

Scrap dealers are largely to blame

Tom, I wish it was that simple. Reality is that, in my view, this country inherited and still has a huge social problem that is rapidly getting bigger and this event is just one small example of it. I don't want to go down a socio-political road - this forum is not intended to be a platform for that -, but (not so) slowly but surely I think we are loosing much of the moral fabric of this nation. The scrap dealers are just part of a (dis)functional chain. I can cite many other (dis)functionaries (my opinion): the police, the judicial system, the government (local, regional and national), the social services, the presidency and uncle Tom Cobbly and all. They are part of a national failure to understand, care about, address and deal with a well documented massive social problem.
What worries me is that the scale of the problem is growing and is, possibly, already larger than any of us can deal with and, perhaps soon, larger than than even nation can deal with.
Quo vadis?

[Tom Macrery]

Good point Steve, but ..... "uncle Tom Cobbly and all" ..... If this is a quaint old British expression, I have never heard it ?!?

and ..... better "quo vadamus?", since we are all in this together!

[John Ashworth]

Tom Pearce, Tom Pearce, lend me your grey mare.
All along, down along, out along lee.
For I want for to go to Widecombe Fair,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

And when shall I see again my grey mare?
All along, down along, out along lee.
By Friday soon, or Saturday noon,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

So they harnessed and bridled the old grey mare.
All along, down along, out along lee.
And off they drove to Widecombe fair,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

Then Friday came, and Saturday noon.
All along, down along, out along lee.
But Tom Pearce's old mare hath not trotted home,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

So Tom Pearce he got up to the top o' the hill.
All along, down along, out along lee.
And he seed his old mare down a-making her will,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

So Tom Pearce's old mare, her took sick and died.
All along, down along, out along lee.
And Tom he sat down on a stone, and he cried
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

But this isn't the end o' this shocking affair.
All along, down along, out along lee.
Nor, though they be dead, of the horrid career
Of Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

When the wind whistles cold on the moor of the night.
All along, down along, out along lee.
Tom Pearce's old mare doth appear ghastly white,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

And all the long night be heard skirling and groans.
All along, down along, out along lee.
From Tom Pearce's old mare in her rattling bones,
With Bill Brewer, Jan Stewer, Peter Gurney,
Peter Davy, Dan'l Whiddon, Harry Hawke,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all,
Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all.

[John Ashworth]

I've moderated a couple of posts and locked this topic (temporarily, maybe) as it has understandably generated some strong emotions towards the thieves which probably don't need to be aired on the FOTR forum.