"Thank you all for alerting me to the rotten nature of your industry."
Jeff Howell has been writing a column in the Sunday Telegraph for many years in which he responds to reader's questions concerning virtually all aspects of property building and maintenance. He is in the privileged position of being a trusted source of information and advice by readers who in the main might not have close contact with practitioners without any possible commercial interest in the advice they proffer.
A thread in the Hard Landscaping Group area is currently discussing 'vigorously' some advice he offered a reader re some fence repairs. Admirably, Jeff appears to have joined LJN to defend his position, but then has done so in such an ignorant and discourteous way that I half suspect it is not him who is posting.
If, however, it is him, I am saddened to see the disrespect he shows to the wide range of people who loosely refer to themselves as landscapers, whether they only maintain lawns or are presently busy planning for Chelsea. There are of course, rogues, at all levels of the 'profession' and doubtless some who post here are by the law of averages, in that category, but one does not need to delve far into LJN to recognise that there are also many thoughtful and conscientious practitioners who are anxious to do things the right way.
I first recall reading the DT in 1966 when the Aberfan disaster occurred and I think the price at that time was 4d, ie 10p for 6 days newspapers. I have been reading it ever since. That doesn't make me any better than a Sun reader, yet he derides all who opposed him as Sun readers who by implication are incapable of appreciating the quality of his arguments.
No particular point to make, but wanted to express my disappointment and alert mainstreamers to the thread!
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Just read through some of the posts(thanks for linking to General Forum)and what a load of nonsense, but it must have livened up a dull Thursday evening. There used to be someone on here a year or so ago who took great delight in 'winding up the locals' and this is surely what it is - a wind up.
Well said John and Colin. I suspect that the real Jeff Howell isn't a LJN member.
I can confirm that it is a genuine account
His account may be genuine and it may well be the 'real' JH, but I still think he's still being a bit mischievous and winding us up, there can be no other excuse for posting such inflammatory tosh.
Phil Voice said:
I think someone should complain to his editor!
All I can think is that as he was last employed in the building trade many years ago that he is sadly out of touch with the real world of being in business however some, (if not most) of his comments on the posting in question shows dare I say it, lack of quality journalistic writing skills.
I do however take my hat off to him for his stance for protecting vulnerable members of the public which all of the members here I am sure support but his “readers question” and the limited information given at the time merely addressed the price given by a gardener for the supply and erecting of four fence panels for which I think most members debated in a professional and honest manner.
I have sent an email to his editor who has responded with this email:
I am writing in response to your email concerning Life columnist, Jeff Howell.
Thank you for taking the time and trouble to make us aware of the situation and for the links you have kindly sent from the Landscape Juice Network forum.
Please accept our apologies for Jeff’s behaviour. I have spoken to Jeff, and he has asked me to pass on his sincere apologies for his actions. He felt intimidated and threatened from the responses he received on the forum and regrettably, as he now acknowledges, reacted in haste.
Your comments have been forwarded on to our Editorial team for their reference. They shall also be speaking to Jeff about his conduct in this matter.
Robbie @ PremierLawnsni said:
Very well done Mike for taking the time to correspond with the editorial team. If I were them, or even Jeff Howell himself, I would ensure that one final posting is made which shows the humility required for matters to be forgotten.
Wow - At least I don't have to now cancel my subscription for the Daily Telegraph.
Poor flower "felt intimidated and threatened" Is this the same guy who wrote only last evening "I thought you fancied a scrap. But you all seem to have gone off in hissy fits"!!!
Mike Warman said: