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INKYTEXT 284
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Issue No 284 Monday 22nd March 1999
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Editorial correspondence should be sent to InkyText@lancaster.ac.uk
Subscription requests to Inkytext-distribution-request@lists.lancaster.ac.uk
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AGENDA
Minutes, Amendments, Matters arising
1. Editorial: The New University Secretary
2. News: Council, IELE, Corporate Plan, UMAG, Signage, Salaries, Conferences.
3. Virtual Proverbs for the Age of the Internet
4. 'Implementing the vision': a critique by Professor Richard Roberts
5. Small Ads: Houses to rent, Motorbike, Piano, Australian Dollars, Easter
Courses, Trophies and Keys, Futon, Flats to rent, Cars for sale, Faure
Concert, Furniture, Greek translators, Paddling poll, Cot and bedding.
6. Readers' Letters: Francophonia, More anagrams, GM food, First division.
MINUTES, AMENDMENTS, MATTERS ARISING
------------------------------------
INDEPENDENT STUDIES PART I: there are only 164 students enrolled on
Part I IS courses, giving it just under 55 FTEs, a reduction of 20 on
last year's figure.
A SUBSCRIBER IN MALAYSIA, well-connected in Min of Ed circles, asks
for details of the changes in Malaysian policy that have adversely
affected IELE in the hope that he may be able to help. Any info may be
forwarded via the editor.
MOHAMMED AL FAYED has agreed to be interviewed by Emily Lomax
(English) tomorrow (Tuesday). They will discuss her chapter on Diana
and Islam.
SECRETARIAL APPOINTING PROCESS: The heads of the Registry and Student
Support also had an opportunity to meet the candidates for the
university secretary post individually and forward brief written
comments to the panel.
1. EDITORIAL: THE NEW UNIVERSITY SECRETARY
------------------------------------------
Ms Fiona M Aiken BA has been appointed as fourth University Secretary
in Lancaster's 35 year history and will take up her post on 1st July.
Her appointment marks a turning, not least because both of her
immediate predecessors were 'insiders'. Apart from our founding
secretary, the late A Stephen Jeffreys, she will be the first to
approach the job with first-hand experience of other university
administrations. She also satisfies the Agenda Group's wish to see a
woman member of UMAG.
Ms Aiken, a Yorkshirewoman despite her name, and barely into early
middle-age, has for the past ten years been Academic Secretary at
Glasgow University and head of one of the six administrative divisions
forming the central administrative planning unit under the Secretary to
the University Court. (One of her co-equals is Finance Officer Mr
Michael Yuille, who, then at Aberdeen, advised us at the time we were
between finance officers ourselves.) Before that she was for eight
years an administrator at Sheffield University.
At Glasgow, Ms Aiken had responsibility for admissions, the registry,
Senate and faculty services, quality assurance and teaching and
learning services. By all accounts she is a popular and personable
figure, 'a star', someone said, noted for her sense of humour. The
corridors of University House have certainly long been in need of fresh
air and laughter. Her husband is understood to be Dr P W M Freeman, a
Roman historian and archaeologist at Liverpool University.
In welcoming her to Lancaster there is no need to blind oneself to the
bizarreries of the somewhat high-handed appointing process and its
outcomes.
Ms Aiken's expertise, as highlighted by the official announcement,
lies precisely in areas where we are already admirably served. It must
have been awkwardly received in some quarters. (Was that intended or
merely another reminder that automata are unfeeling and unthinking?)
Many had expected that the new appointment would have strengths and
experience in overseas recruitment, marketing and fund-raising. It was
for this reason that the post of International Officer was advertised
at a relatively low grade.
The new appointment has also been fairly coolly greeted by the many
staff in the academic division who have been inspired by the
understanding, the clarity and the leadership of John McGovern over
these past months. And that despite the fact that he negotiated cuts
in their budgets....
The enormous respect and loyalty he has generated in a short period
have impressed both his staff and his superiors. At all levels many
feel he has been poorly rewarded for it. The paranoid see him as a
victim of political machination. They could be right.
2. NEWS
-------
ALL BEST WISHES TO CONFERENCE OFFICER BILL CHRISTIAN currently
suffering from a severe chest illness.
IELE: At last Monday's meeting of the Social Science Faculty's Policy
and Resources Committe, the paper proposing cuts in IELE was withdrawn
pending formal consultations between the university and AUT officials.
UMAG: last week's meeting was attended by the Deans. It was almost
solely concerned with the Corporate Plan, especially Section 6 dealing
with academic activities. By and large faculty suggestions were
accepted and translated into the language of the Planning Office.
FRIDAY'S MEETING OF THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL was an all-day affair.
There was a buffet lunch but the morning session didn't finish until
1.40. The afternoon began with an embarrassing set-to between the chair
and several lay members anxious that Council should, as recommended by
the Dearing Report, review its own effectiveness.
As usual the chair was anxious to postpone this matter further by
asking for a paper from the Academic Registrar or an Internal
Audit-style checklist. That of course is precisely the kind of
behaviour that infuriates those who wish Council to be less of a
rubber-stamp for decisions already taken elsewhere by the top table.
Some splendid interventions by Deputy Pro-Chancellor David Martin, Gay
Webb and newcomer Michael Hart.
UNIVERSITY SECRETARY: the Council formally ratified Ms Aiken's
appointment. Members were surprised not to be provided with the
traditional one-page biography.
CORPORATE PLAN: Council members learned that HEFCE does not now
require to see our Corporate Plan until July 2000. We are nonetheless
continuing with the present exercise for our own benefit.
PROMOTIONS: Council approved an increase from 10 to 17 in the number
of promotions to senior lecturer in the present round.
SALARIES: renewed warnings that a national salary rise of anything
above 3-3.5 percent will cause problems. UCEA (the employers' side in
salary negotiations) seems out of touch with the problems of normal
universities like ourselves. Possibly because it is chaired by the VC
of the extremely solvent University of Liverpool. LAUT President
Maurice Kirby puzzled some of his members by assuring Council that, in
the event of a greater rise, he expected the local branch would be
'cooperative'. Not entirely sure what that might mean.
THE ESTATES COMMITTEE met last week and considered the JIF projects
and various proposals relating to signs and other impedimenta at the
University's entrance and periphery.
CONCERN AT COUNCIL ABOUT THE DROP IN QR MONEY. Some of this relates to
a relatively low recruitment of graduate students, especially from
overseas. A graduate student member made some excellent points,
reminding members that we put miserably few resources into marketing
post-graduate courses.
THE PREMATURE RETIREMENT COMMITTEE meets today.
THE VC INVITED REGIONAL OFFICERS of campus unions to a meeting last
week. The NW officer (AUT Deputy Secretary) was surprised that local
branches had not been informed and sent the Lancaster branch secretary
in his stead.
CONFERENCES: very meagre list of bookings so far for both Easter and
the summer vacation. Many have remarked that the new Conference Centre,
designed without academics in mind, may be doomed to continue lying
empty for much of the working week during term as well. The shape,
pillars, acoustics and windows of the two large rooms make them
ill-suited to lecturing. As remarked here already, however, now
attractively refurbished they would make most attractive catering
venues. All it would take is to rebuild a kitchen behind them....
3. VIRTUAL PROVERBS FOR THE AGE OF THE INTERNET
-----------------------------------------------
[NOTE: Another piece of anonymous netlore. The begetters of these are
as fertile and famous as the great Renaissance painter with the most
prolific output, Ignoto. (Ed.)]
1. Home is where you hang your @
2. The E-mail of the species is more deadly than the mail.
3. A journey of a thousand sites begins with a single click.
4. You can't teach a new mouse old clicks.
5. Great groups from little icons grow.
6. Speak softly and carry a cellular phone.
7. C:\is the root of all directories.
8. Don't put all your hypes in one home page.
9. Pentium wise; pen and paper foolish.
10. The modem is the message.
11. Too many clicks spoil the browse.
12. The geek shall inherit the earth.
13. A chat has nine lives.
14. Don't byte off more than you can view.
15. Fax is stranger than fiction.
16. What boots up must come down.
17. Windows will never cease.
18. In Gates we trust.
19. Virtual reality is its own reward.
20. Modulation in all things.
21. A user and his leisure time are soon parted.
22. There's no place like home.com
23. Know what to expect before you connect.
24. Oh, what a tangled website we weave when first we practise.
25. Speed thrills.
26. Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to use
the Net and he won't bother you for weeks.
4. 'IMPLEMENTING THE VISION': A CRITIQUE BY PROFESSOR RICHARD ROBERTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------
[NOTE: Comments were recently invited on the Dearing-inspired
Institute for Learning and Teaching's proposals for the training and
(at 50 quid per annum) accreditation of individual university teachers,
a scheme described by one Lancaster HoD as in danger of looking like a
'protection racket'.
Prof Roberts (Religious Studies) has replied in a personal capacity.
An edited version of his reply follows. It will be widely applauded by
older readers, but no doubt seem strangely outmoded or elitist to those
who have supported the taking over of leadership in Higher Education by
school teachers and the former polytechnics. (Ed).]
I consider the proposed scheme to be misconceived. This programme has
been devised without [adequate] consultation. Responsibility to
tradition is to all intents and purposes completely ignored in the
formulation of the ILT proposals.
I do not repeat the given, and 'provide' knowledge; I am party to the
creation of knowledge, and it is on this basis that I teach. The ILT
proposals are designed to confine the university teacher into a tightly
controlled provider/receiver relationship that in effect excludes other
stakeholder factors.
The latter are concerned, not least with: i) with research and the
creation of knowledge; ii) the freedom of research and teaching
characteristic of the European and world traditions of the university
as such (and not the secondary school or technical college); and iii)
the freedom to address and respond to the student in a relationship of
co-responsibility without incessant and arbitrary intrusion.
I strive to undertake my responsibilities with integrity. I but I do
not need to be 'licensed' to do this by those whose expertise has not
earned my respect and whose power is to be imposed upon me by fiat. As
a teacher of critical thinking working in a university, it is my duty
to question the coherence and legitimacy of arbitrary authority; should
I fail to do this, then I betray not only myself, but also those whom I
teach.
A whole regime of thought control is implemented in the 24 teaching
outcomes. I am not prepared to say which I regard as a minimum because
I dispute the legitimacy of the basis of all of them. The ILT has not
consulted me, or any colleague known to me, prior to the imposition of
this (to use the Polish Communist term) 'normalisation' of thought. Why
should I conform my personal and intellectual identity in a scheme of
comprehensive alienation, other than through fear of the threat
(explicitly present in the papers that you have circulated) that I will
not be able to be promoted or move from my present post within the UK
system unless I conform?
In reality, it is impossible to conform to such a complex scheme as
that proposed by the ILT in the context of the exigencies of the
work-place. That is except insofar as a given university employee
'performs' the module preparation exercise, and then puts this
confection to one side when faced with the reality of the sixty hour
week that many of us work. Knowing, however, that the employee will be
held responsible for not performing the impossible, and that sanctions
may be imposed upon them for disobeying an unrealistic command
schedule, then a Kafkaesque situation ensues. This provides an
institutional recipe for bullying, intimidation, pervasive fear and the
triumph of conformist mediocrity - I have experienced this at first
hand. We are looking at the creation of the kind of legalistic
nightmare of Bleak House, an academic Court of Chancery (the ILT) with
infinite powers of espial and the concomitant capacity to wreck minds
and lives, albeit by stealth.
I consider the 24 outcomes to be excessive in the extreme. Worse,
however, they do not arise out of the reality of the responsibilities
of the university, and of the researcher and teacher: they are an
imposition by what amounts to a national 'thought police,' a body
empowered upon false and contentious premises.
Any colleague possessed of a fully developed intellectual spinal
column and with some respect for European and world traditions of
research and teaching ought to have difficulties.
In my experience, in the face of waves of coercion, older colleagues
tend to fade into premature retirement; younger colleagues (in
particular those on probation) not surprisingly are placed under much
pressure to conform. Those like myself (I am in my early fifties) face
a dilemma: either conform and sacrifice integrity and identity, and
learn to perform a Newspeak in which I do not believe - or protest.
The three year cycle will mean (as does RAE) that yet another deadline
will distort planning procedures that should reflect the contingent
exigencies of each department and its host institution. The fear of
de-registration every three years will act as a break upon genuine
critical thought and innovation - and further timidify an already
demoralised labour force.
In asking how the assessment of portfolios/professional development
records can balance generic understandings of teaching and learning,
and subject-specific judgements and practice, the ILT gets to a point
anchored in the realities of university life. These dimensions are
inseparable; but the subject specific knowledge and practice is, given
the nature of university research and teaching, primary. The ILT works
on the assumption (doubtless dictated by government - and self-interest
in institutional survival) that the generic skills should lead.
For the real university researcher and teacher, international standing
is acquired by a constantly expanding repertoire of linguistic skills,
abilities to think theoretically, and knowledge of cultures which come
first in her or his mind and life. Teaching flows from this: such
people have given their lives and their identities to acquire what it
takes to be out-standing scholars. They have not made a life choice to
be trainers on GNVQ programmes who can, if need be, dump banal
repetition each night at 5.30pm.
If forced to seek membership as the price of continuing in my post or
of seeking another position in a British university, I would consider
it appropriate that I be interviewed (as in normal appraisal of senior
staff) by an individual or group of individuals whose expertise matched
mine, and along lines agreed on the basis of negotiation.
New staff at Lancaster are undergoing training in accordance with the
nationalised scheme: according to my informants, they tend to find the
procedure divorced from the actualities of expert course preparation
and delivery (as opposed to generic skills).
The scheme is non-consensual and misconceived - and involves a
forcible 'dumbing-down'.
If one assumes, and I do not, that universities are institutions for
late national adolescent-minding, remedial teaching and the propagation
of generic skills, then no doubt the proposed scheme is appropriate.
If, however, one believes (as I do) that the continuing validity of
'real' universities resides in initiation into the use of critical
intellect, and the exercise of the same, then the proposals are
seriously damaging. They imply an inhibition of responsible academic
freedom, a denial of professional relative autonomy, and a development
that makes a mockery of a genuine liberal yet rigorous advanced
education.
I am not a 'pedagogue' but a scholar in the humanities and a social
scientist who strives to teach in the time-honoured ways of the
European and world university traditions. I am prepared to defend my
practice before any legitimate body of my peers. The agents of the ILT
and its policies as stated in the 24 criteria do not fall into the
latter category.
I am not in a position to do anything other that to protest against a
slow process of coercion. The imposition of the latter amounts to
constructive dismissal for those who, like myself, believe in the
university as the 'seat of the democratic intellect' (George Davie) and
a 'community of contested discourses' (Alasdair MacIntyre).
None of the great teachers I experienced as a student would have stood
for ILT 'normalisation' and the nationalisation of the mind of the
nation's youth. They, like I, believed in the rights of both teacher
and taught to the creation and possession of human identities formed
through a mutual process of interaction, the outcome of which is a
multiplex capacity for informed judgement. We are talking about the
mystery of human existence: this should not be a matter of
predetermined outcomes, the intellectual equivalent of cloning.
5. SMALL ADS
------------
TROPHIES FOR ALL SPORTS.
Free engraving on most gifts.
Keys- buy one, get a copy free.
Watch batteries and straps fitted free.
Student discount on most items.
Key Services. St. Nicholas' Arcade. Tel 01524 845440.
------------------
MOTORCYCLE FOR SALE. 1990 Kawasaki GPZ 500S in blue. New tyres and
exhaust. Quick and reliable. 750 pounds. Tel. 01524 35460.
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HOUSE TO RENT: Modern Two Bedroomed House, unfurnished with fitted
kitchen, ch, parking space, in quiet location close to the City centre.
Would suit couple, academics and post-grads only. 320 pounds p.c.m. For
further information please phone Andy on 67308
----------------
FOR SALE: $990 Australian, in notes. Selling because our trip to
Australia is postponed. You can buy them from us at a better rate than
you will get from the banks (and no commission to pay). Part sale
considered. Phone Lancaster 846878. Beat the banks if you need some Oz
dollars.
------------
PIANO FOR SALE German 'Knauss' Good condition, includes piano stool.
150 pounds Contact t.wakeford@lancaster.ac.uk or tel 93269.
--------------
IKEA FUTON FOR SALE in natural unstained pine with natural cotton
fixed cover (Bromsta with standard Garlinge mattress). Hardly used.
Very comfortable. Great as an occasional sofa bed. New price 89.00.
BARGAIN AT 65.00 . CONTACT TIM ON X 92532/33 OR (01257) - 425490 (after
6pm).
--------------
HOUSE FOR RENT: Due to a forthcoming sabbatical year we would like to
rent our large double-fronted Edwardian end-of-terrace situated in the
Fairfield area (5 mins town, 20 mins university by cycle). 4/5
bedrooms, 2 reception rooms, bathroom, kitchen and store rooms, full
GSH. Fireplaces, cast-iron stove, tiled floors, stripped doors, iron
railings etc. It will be partly furnished. Suit non-smoking staff,
visitors or postgrads with no pets. Available 1 September 1999 to 31
August 2000, 500 pounds pcm +bills. Contact p.barker@lancs.ac.uk or
telephone 63157.
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FLAT FOR RENT in city centre, cosy, comfortable and quiet. 1 minute
from the railway station, 3 minutes from town centre. 2 bedrooms,
lounge, kitchen with washing machine, gas cooker/electric oven,
bathroom with shower. Fully furnished. New building (built 1995).
Available from mid-May, for medium-term or long-term lease. Rent: ?350
pcm, excluding bills. Contact Anne-Marie Fortier: tel. (01524) 381-401;
e-mail: a.fortier@lancaster.ac.uk. OR Marcus Meriman: e-mail:
marcus@benchill45.freeserve.co.uk
----------------
FOR SALE: Peugeot 405 GLX, 94 L reg. Silver. Metallic paint, air
condition, electric windows, six speaker stereo radio/cassette, power
steering, leather steering wheel. Only 39.000 miles . Full Peugeot
service history. Excellent condition, just serviced. Optional
transferral of 3 months Peugeot warranty. Reluctant sale due to new job
abroad; Price: 3895 pounds ONO Phone: 01524-849802 E-mail:
e.petersen@lancaster.ac.uk
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FOR SALE: F reg Rover 213s (4-door), 75,000 miles, service record.
Owner returning overseas and requires a negotiated handover in May.
Phone (015242) 72325 or email wrd@waikato.ac.nz.
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TO LET: SELF-CONTAINED FLAT, Meeting House Lane. Located in the centre
of Lancaster between the Railway Station and Waterstones Bookshop.
Southern aspect overlooking attractive garden. Accommodation comprises
kitchen/diner. living room, double bedroom and shower room. Possible
use of attached garage. Fully furnished with all mod cons including
fridge, freezer, washing machine, telephone and economy 7 storage
heaters. Recently redecorated throughout. Suitable for one/couple.
Preferably staff, postgrads or mature students. Sorry no pets or
children. 375 pounds per calendar month. Available for immediate
occupancy. Inquiries to Anna Lorbiecki (ext. 594035) or Mark
Easterby-Smith (ext. 4012), or in evenings/weekends at Lancaster 34580.
Or E-mail[a.lorbiecki@lancaster.ac.uk]
------------
AIMEZ VOUS FAURE?
Morecambe Philharmonic Choir Easter Concert
7.30 pm, Christ Church, Broadway, Morecambe.
Tickets 3-50.
On Saturday March 27th, there will be a choral and orchestral concert
on a contemplative theme, highlighting especially the music of Gabriel
Faure. The first half will feature the early Cantique de Jean Racine,
preceded by a reading of the poem by a French member of the choir, and
the gentle Pavane. There will be other Easterish music by Bach,
Schubert and LLoyd Webber. The second half will consist of the
beautiful and deservedly popular Requiem.
Soloists are Viki Hart (soprano, graduate of our Music Department),
and Brian Lancaster (baritone), and the special orchestra contains
several University musicians.
Choir director and conductor Robin McIlveen comments "I have in the
last two months grown to admire the deceptive simplicity and elegance
of Faure's music, and I am pleased that such subtle and restrained
music can remain popular in our hectic and decibel-ridden society."
Light refreshments and detailed concert programme notes.
------------------
ENGLISH/GREEK TRANSLATORS urgently needed to interpret for a week or
two on an ad hoc basis for non-english speaking grandmother visiting
sick grand daughter in Lancaster Hospital. Please contact Caroline
Giles - c.giles@lancaster.ac.uk or ext 92583 asap.
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Department of Continuing Education
EASTER ALTERNATIVE
Places are still available on the above. Most courses cost 17 pounds.
Courses are held at the Storey Institute, Meeting House Lane, unless
otherwise indicated. To enrol telephone 01524 592623/4, extension
9263/4 on campus.
Stars in your Eyes, March 27 & 10 April, Lancaster University
Event Promotion on a Low Budget, 27 & 28 March, Lancaster University
Sprechen Sie Deutsch, 29, 30 & 31 March, Lancaster University
The Story of Ancient Woodland in the North West, 29 & 30 March
Introduction to Darkroom Techniques, 29 & 30 March, Folly Studios
Botanic Medicine, 29 & 30 March
Reading Old Handwriting for Family Historians, 30 & 31 March and 7 & 8 April
Geological Rambles in the West Yorkshire Dales, 31 March & 1 April
Intermediate Word Processing with Microsoft 97, 7, 8, 9 & 10 April, Lancaster
University, 41 pounds
Alexander Technique: A Short Course, 7 & 8 April, Lancaster University
Introducing Landscape Photography, 7 & 8 April
Buorgiorno Italia, 7, 8, 9 & 10 April, Lancaster University
Woodland Ecology, 9 & 10 April
---------------
LAST FEW ITEMS FOR SALE (before emptying 6-bed house on 29 March. PAIR
ANTIQUE OAK DINING CHAIRS; Ikea TABLE LAMP, various good quality LONG
VELVET CURTAINS: brown, blue, gold, green; 1920s 7-piece BEDROOM SUITE:
dark oak twin beds with head/foot-boards; VERY HANDSOME two-door
wardrobe with central bevelled full-length mirror and drawers with
recessed brass handles; dressing table with triple bevelled mirrors and
matching stool, both with Queen Anne legs; chest of drawers, bedside
cabinet - could sell separately); framed print of Bosch's GARDEN OF
EARTHLY DELIGHTS with 2 books on the painting; Prestige pressure
cooker.Contact Lynda Burke, tel. 841169, e-mail
Lynda@castletrans.free-online.co.uk
-----------------
TRANSLATION, INTERPRETING, TRANSCRIBING, PROOFREADING, WORDPROCESSING
and CV design as well): full-time professional service. Contact Lynda
Burke,CASTLE TRANSLATIONS, tel. 841169, e-mail
Lynda@castletrans.free-online.co.uk
--------------
FOR SALE: EARLY LEARNING CENTRE 6 x 4 - Rigid Framed Paddling Pool. As
new condition. 7.00 Tel: Alice 792768
----------------
FOR SALE: COSATTO WHITE COT & Applique Bedding Set. (Quilt, Bumper,
Nappy Sack, Mobile & two rolls of matching border paper.) Pastel
colours, v.g.c. Bedding cost over 200.00 Tel: Pat 60441
-------------------
6. READERS' LETTERS
-------------------
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Channel Islands, Senegal, Ivory Coast,
Benin, Cameroun, Togo, Burkino Fasu, Mali, Niger, Central African
Republic, the Comores, Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Haiti, Noumea,
Guyana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Tahiti. How am I doing?
[NOTE: Not bad at all. Some way to go though. Try not to mix up
independent countries with French overseas departments and territories
(DOM-TOM). (Ed.)]
---------------------------
In addition to the anagrams sent in by others I thought that you might
like to see a few we got using a program on our computer a couple of
years ago. They're a bit dated now, but one or two aren't bad:
Tower Avenue = A Woe Venture
Library Extension = Risible Tory Annex
or... Sexy Reliant Robin
University House = Use sin - you thrive
or... Oh Usury Invitees!
Michael Cowie
------------------------------
I hope eventually to have something to say about the GM business and
the abuse of the philosophy and procedure of science which it
represents and depends on. Actually I believe that this is just the
latest and potentially largest example in a long series of increasingly
clever and increasingly unwise attempts to rush in where truly
scientific angels should fear to tread. It probably should be the stuff
of a major effort on my part, but the old dog may be past such
exhausting tricks. So it might lead to a letter to Inkytext, which I
will try very hard not to couch in the polysyllabic Tunbridge Wells
style which I personally find instantly defuses any sympathy I might
have as reader.
--------------------------------
The front-page headline in LU News claims "Lancaster in first division
for teaching".
It seems that sporting metaphors work their way into all aspects of
modern life. Writers should be careful to check that the understanding
matches their message. For several years now English soccer has been
organised so the top teams are in a Premier Division which is better
than the First Division. So when I read that Lancaster is in the first
division, I wonder what message is being put across? Is that first
division as opposed to premier league?
[NOTE: Yes, actually. Or Second Division as it might be called in
sports other than football. The Daily Telegraph's table placed us 12th
with 10 in the Premiership. (Ed.)]
-------------------------
MAYBE YOU'LL GET THAT PIECE ON SEARCH ENGINES NEXT TIME