Tower and Town, October 2016

  (view the full edition)

On Turning 70 - Reflections

I joined Tower and Town some 6 years ago when I was a “new boy” in Marlborough, and I have much enjoyed my association with this Magazine. I have played some part in its development, especially on its operational side, and have edited 4 or 5 issues over the years.

This issue is completely different from the others. The remaining pages cover the events and developments of 2016 as viewed by myself and by various friends and acquaintances. The main “chapters” are:

The Referendum. An unashamedly partisan view in favour of Remain is given. This was also the cornerstone of my acquiring a group of Facebook friends of similar persuasion (at least on this issue). In turn this new exposure to Social Media has in fact enriched my life and opened my eyes and mind to new vistas.

Facebook. Many of my friends and contemporaries, whilst being fairly proficient with Email, Word, Excel etc. are reluctant to venture onto Facebook or other rather open Social Media sites. They are concerned (understandably) about their privacy and the increased risk of hacking that this might engender. I think it is perhaps due to the fact that I am (not entirely of my own volition!) single at present, that I have embraced FB and have acquired a number of excellent new friends, of different ages and political perspectives. For older people it is not always easy to expand one’s group of friends, but I find it absolutely delightful; furthermore it has convinced me that I often have more in common with a younger generation than with my own! So, during the course of these pages, I will be introducing you to people like Anthony McGowan, Boris Starling, Veronique Martin, my brilliant niece Sophie Unwin and the irrepressible Danuta Kean.

Writers, writing and the Olympics. I personally much enjoyed watching the Olympic Games from Rio; reaction from many overseas friends convinces me that the oft-maligned BBC, without ads, is still the Gold Standard of Broadcasters. The contributions on Facebook from Boris Starling on some famous (or less famous) Olympic moments of the past have been quite outstanding, and he has been kind to allow part to be included here.

Andrew Unwin