And so it should – there really is no need to search for any alternative.

However much one might disagree with the idea of a town council, now it is with us it has to have something with which to identify itself, and the "We Long Endure" symbol fills that role perfectly.

There is no need to call in outside bodies at a cost of hundreds of pounds to the town's council tax payers to design some fancy emblem and motto which will mean nothing to Colners.

The original badge, with its links to the textile industry and the De Lacy family who were the lords of the town in the 12th Century, was the obvious choice from Day One. Mr Pendle just wonders what took the council so long to make its mind up.


THE great British tradition of taking things far too seriously has reared its ugly head once again.

Apparently, Andrew Lloyd-Webber – the man who foisted "Cats", "Evita", "Jesus Christ Superstar" on us – has been called upon to write the British entry for next year's Eurovision Song Contest.

And with a breathtaking arrogance, his Lordship addresses us thus: "People of Britain, I am here to speak to you about a subject of considerable gravity. A subject that affects each and every one of us.

"I refer, of course, to our great nation's continued failure in the Eurovision Song Contest. The BBC have asked me to unite our kingdom in a quest to bring home the Eurovision crown once more."

Does he really believe anyone is bothered about Eurovision these days?

Does he really believe that if he writes a song for the song fest, countries across Europe will fall over themselves to award La Grande-Bretagne douze points instead of their cross-border neighbours?

Does he think his songwriting talents will suddenly make the annual allegations about anti-British vote rigging in the press disappear as a successor to previous British winners Sandie Shaw, Lulu, Brotherhood of Man, Bucks Fizz and Katrina and the Waves (names and songs to make your teeth grate) is found?

And how far up his cheek is his tongue when he says writing a successful Eurovision song is "the biggest mission impossible of all time"?


USE public transport more and leave the car at home, we are told often enough nowadays.

Mr Pendle had cause to do just that the other day – but he will not do so again unless he is forced.

For when the cost in his bus fares per week adds up to more than what he spends on petrol, any chance of him becoming a regular passenger goes up in smoke.