Author: Mark Compton-Hall
All Praise To Lesley, The Green Queen
Friday, 18th April, 2008 at 4:19 pm, Isle of Wight
It was really heart warming to hear this lovely story of civic pride which is happening every day in Ventnor. It’s this level of pride in the community and surroundings that restores one’s faith in humanity.
Well done Lesley, you’re doing a fantastic job, let’s hope others follow suit, or better still that the litter bugs start putting their rubbish in the bins provided. Ed
A while ago I discovered Lesley from The Ventnorian made herself useful in picking up rubbish other people had dropped in the central car park, the pavements around it and in Spring Hill Gardens.
We were very impressed that here was someone who took real pride in the surroundings around her shop and the local visible area. This fitted in neatly with the community values section of the town plan.
One day she mentioned to me that she nearly picked up a plastic bag until she saw what it contained (dog poo). She said to me enough was enough. She said she wanted to make a difference in her own way and would do her best but did not really feel happy picking up mess like that.
I spoke to Rob Reed the Town Manager and asked if he could give her a picker upper (he did….a small one)
She took to this new tool like a duck to water and began daily chasing every piece of rubbish that could be seen, and doing her best to keep the central car park, pavements and spring gardens looking spick and span.
One day I noticed she was stooping over (I thought too much). I asked Rob to give her a long handed picker upper as we were worried about her straining her back.
She now has a new longer picker upper and is catching more rubbish quicker as a result. She enjoys what she does and she makes a real difference. Does all this good for the community and runs a busy shop, looks after her family etc.
Community, Green Issues, Ventnor
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April 18th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Well done ,a credit to the town.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
Then Leslie dumps it in the dog poo bin despite it saying ‘no litter’ and there being a litter bin nearby. I have seen her.
April 18th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Ventmale you are unbelievable - maybe it was dog poo that she was throwing away?
Lesley goes out of her way to make the the town look better and pick up after the slobs who drop litter - what’s your contribution other than making comments to get up people’s noses?
You should be praising her not criticizing.
Last week you asked for your blog account to be cancelled, so why are you still coming back?
April 18th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
What is being done about the litter bugs, going about. F— All.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
she is a credit to the town , picking up our own litter is one thing but she picks up other peoples . so thank you .
April 19th, 2008 at 2:34 am
yes i think it is good to know that someone really cares for the tidiness and cleannies in this town full credit to Lesley
April 19th, 2008 at 2:39 am
and as for ventmale i think he is a brainless fool to come on here and make those stupid comments he ought to be shot
April 19th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Dear Ventnor Bloggers,
Lesley is one of those people who is obviously passionate about her surroundings. There is a saying that one should not sh*t where one eats and she obviously is aware that humans are abusive to their surroundings especially when people like ventmail complain and talk but don’t walk. Green warriors unite don’t complain and sustain the evolution to maintain our world a clean one and a better one. All hands on deck…and those whom do not know the difference between walking and talking keep posting your irritating voice around, after all it is your waste of energy not ours and instead of bickering you could be doing something to “litter bugs” if it is not that you yourself are not one. Lesley, I probably don’t need to tell you this but I want to say it anyway keep your head up and stand full of pride whether or not the garbage you collect goes in the poo bin or the garbage bin…poo is poo either way its waste and it does not belong in your enviroment or anybody’s enviroment.
Sincerely,
Jack Tupac Pennington
http://www.ecowhy.blogspot.com
April 20th, 2008 at 11:00 am
Well said Jack,does it really matter where the litter is put, as long as its off the street. I picked up six beer cans and the cardboard wrapper in a plastic bag today from the garden across the road from Lesley’s shop this morning. Education is the key and plenty of bad publicity for the litter louts.
Keep up the good work Lesley. Ventnor residents thank you for all your time and effort
April 20th, 2008 at 11:52 am
yes i also agreed with what Jack had said i think it is right that the good people in ventnor such as Lesley should keep their head up with pride and do the good for this community by carrying on this good work also i agree with sheila when she said that it does not matter which bin the litter goes in what matters that the streets around ventnor or anywhere should be kept clean also it should be the likes of ventmale who should keep their head down by not making nasty remarks about this good person who is doing good for the community. finally from now on when i am walking around the town such as the high street or spring hill gardens in which sit on the bench if i am having my lunch on a nice day and see any litter around i be only too glad to volunteer to pick up the litter and put it in any bin, but at the same time i don’t want to tread on anyone’s toes or Lesley’s by taking over all i want to do is to care how much the surounding parts of ventnor are kept clean and tidy so i like to do my bit as possible so again well done Lesley keep up the good work
April 20th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Mmmm…think i can honestly say i know the difference in litter and poo,and who would want to use the poo bin unless you had to? not me. Anyway ventmale if you see me using the poo bin again feeel free to come and inspect the contents!
Tis nice to read other comments though, thanks, Lesley
April 20th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
FYI I frequently pick up other dogs dog shit when I am walking my own dog. So do NOT talk to me about talking the talk and walking the walk. Unfortunately MCH wasn’t around, with his camera, when I collect up the dog shit and nor would I want him to be. I am quite happy to do this without any recognition.
Also I took all this dog shit home and put it my wormery, so I got liquid compost out of it.
I see from some of the comments above that some have said they will follow Lesleys’ example, what a shame they aren’t the ones that lead by example.
April 20th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Jean-Paul It doesn’t matter who picks litter up. Lesley won’t mind at all. If everybody picks up some then Ventnor will be a much cleaner place to live.I only wish that we could educate the louts that leave it around in the first place.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:09 pm
@Alan
“what a shame they aren’t the ones that lead by example.”
How do you know they don’t?
“Also I took all this dog shit home and put it my wormery, so I got liquid compost out of it.”
Ah, well that says a lot - you just keep on doing that mate.
April 21st, 2008 at 4:39 pm
@Craigy
do you mean me?
If so, please don’t drag me into it. I have said nothing.
April 21st, 2008 at 4:58 pm
@Alan - as has said before on the beach feet posting. I believe you to be the same person.
April 21st, 2008 at 5:05 pm
@ Sal, well you are wrong. So Sal & Craigy, please do not drag me into this debate about litter.
April 21st, 2008 at 5:09 pm
yes i do agree with you sheila that it does not matter who picks up the litter as long as everyone do something for the good of this good town & community such as ventnor. and i agree with lesley that she honestly knows the difference between dog poo and litter and ventmale should know that and as for ventmale he does not have go into full detail about how he deals with the dog’s mess when he gets home i don’t think everyone wants to know the full detail
April 21st, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Well done Lesley. You’re a credit to the town.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:51 pm
[...] Mark Compton-Hall put her up for the award as he like the rest of us was impressed with her efforts in making at least part of Ventnor litter free for the benefit of residents and visitors. Lesley’s Anti Litter efforts have been noticed before on Ventnor Blog. [...]