I have never seen the point of wearing jewellry,being a very masculine individual,and having beenraised in the hard school where men were men and women were glad of it.So,apart from a wrist watch,jewellry was out.But during the next few days I'm going to be in the market for a crucifix and chain and I will explain why.

Having been baptised into the Church of England in a farming community I have always been aware of the principles of Chritianity,principles which are extremely simple,uncomplicated and easily understood.When you hear the technical jargon spewed out by some in the name of Christianity,foget it,it's rubbish of the first order which is why,in spite of working for years helping in the running of my tiny village church,Iam not considering myself a good christian.But to the crucifix and chain. Shirley Chaplin is a christian and a damn good one for all that.She is also a committed nurse and a damngood one of those too,and she has worn her crucifix since she was 16 years of age,has never taken it off in all that time and has taken great consolation from it in times of need.It is an essential part of her being and to have to remove it would leave her devastated,dislocated and discriminated against. Enter the "bosses" of the Royal Devon and Exter Hospital who have told her to hide it or remove it.It is in breach of (you've guessed it)Health and Safety laws,they say,and what a complete load of "horlicks" that is.She,like myself,has a phobia about flying(I know the feeling very well)and I can imagine how she tightly grasps her crucifix during take off and landing,gaining enormous consolation from it.Naturally as a committed christian she has refused to remove it and over a period of years and 10 interviews has suffered stress,sleepless nights,tearful interludes and two weeks off work,she now faces the verdict of a tribunal.Many readers willmake comparisons with the dress,etc.worn by other faiths.Ihesitate to elaborate on that in the angry mood I'm in for fear of upsetting our Editor but you will recognise where I'm coming from.An enormous nunber of people are praying for her(it is said this helps)and a verdict is expected today(6.04.10)So,good luck to Shirl.against the might of political correctness. And THATis why I'm about to wear,for the first time in my life,a crucifix and chain,feeling that I'm doing my bit in support of a very brave lady.