Lewes Forum thread

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Sunday Times article discussed on BBC radio

On 16 Aug 2010 at 8:20pm Hoodie Hugger wrote:

I know this has been done to death a little, but thought you might be interested to know that the Sunday Times article was discussed on BBC Radio Sussex this morning. David J Smith was interviewed, calling the reaction to the article 'hysterical'. I wasn't aware that attempting to defend one's town from a serious slur was hysteria, but there we are. Iana Jacobson (Chair of Lewes Conservatives) was also interviewed and gave a pretty decent common sense rebuttal.
You can hear the whole program on BBC iplayer, but it doesn't seem to want me to link to it.

On 16 Aug 2010 at 8:36pm Peter and Boo-Nam wrote:

Exactly what David Smith wanted, publicity, like all hacks of his quality, what a dullard! Bet he has never felt so important in all his invisable life, oh well, chip paper tomorrow as they say. The man has already bored me to death. RIP, Peter.

On 16 Aug 2010 at 8:47pm MC wrote:

Needs to sell his dire little book. Pipsqueak.

On 16 Aug 2010 at 9:09pm Patricia wrote:

Mr Smith is after selling his book and he will because of the outcry. Sad people will buy it . I am not a resident but have lots of lovely friends in Lewes and can assure you none of them are racist by any means unlike Mr Smith .

On 16 Aug 2010 at 10:38pm Listener wrote:

It can be found at
bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0099jnc/Danny_Pike_16_08_2010/
The whole debate starts at 10mins 21secs

On 16 Aug 2010 at 10:49pm RinTin wrote:

I've lived in Lewes 24 years. I went to the school in the article. I'm mixed race. Wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
Let's move on and not indulge this poor guy.

On 16 Aug 2010 at 11:35pm Newmania wrote:

Reminds me of Ace In The Hole

On 16 Aug 2010 at 11:36pm Correction wrote:

@RinTin: good post
The actual article is at (prefix with the usual h and w stuff)bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0099k6y/Sussex_Breakfast_16_08_2010

On 17 Aug 2010 at 5:53pm Peter and Boon-Nam wrote:

Spoke to one of my exes who is now back in Nairobi living, had to tell her my good news (which she refused to comment on) So swiftly moving on I discussed Daullard Smith's article, and she was furious, she stated Lewes had been the friendliest place she had ever lived and she loved the people, apart from one, who was she said an absolute b......d, yes you can guess who she meant, Moi!! Had to laugh, she is a feisty one no mistake! Best to you all, Peter and Boon-Nam

On 17 Aug 2010 at 7:14pm independent thinker wrote:

I was away when the article came out, so missed all the hoopla. Just listened to his interview. I love the bit at the end where he says people don't like to be told their behaviour is racist, so the fact that the town as a whole has denied being racist proves that it is, indeed, racist. Wow. With double think logic like that no wonder Murdoch hired him! Just for the record, despite being a lefty liberal occasional sandal-wearing lentil eater, I strongly disagree with his argument that Lewes is a racist town. I'm sure there are racist people here, but if so, they keep themselves incredibly well hidden (like his former near neighbour) The fact he resorted to claiming an 8 year old is racist for noticing his son's nostrils were a bit different from his own, says more about his obsession with finding offence everywhere he looks than it does about the town. But what I find even worse, is having done such a bad job of proving racism in the article he then resorted to the lowest of the low, saying on the radio that he had other stories he could have used that were much worse but chose not to. Oh, case proved. No need to back them up, provide sources, investigate them, give anyone the right of reply, explain why the police weren't involved etc, just a neat little bit of smearing and innuendo to make sure everyone listening would associate Lewes with a hotbed of racism. What a charming, delightful man.