After foregoing our normal trip to Cambridge, Di took Debbie to get some new shoes and I collected Derek from Peterborough after he was released on what turned out to be two technical offences. After a conference with Derek, Percy and Sally, we agreed a public response and I attended a Paxton Pits nature reserve in the evening. I also phoned my Mum who was in much better spirits.
We decided not to go in to Cambridge today as there far too much happening and too much to do with the girls going back to school tomorrow. Instead, Diana took Debbie into St Neots to get her some shoes and Della stayed at home with me and Daniel. I was making telephone calls, sorting through my post and papers and awaiting word from Peterborough where Derek Giles was appearing at the Magistrates Court on his firearms offences. It was emerging that the police had taken a statement from the Town Clerk about the recent events and that there were two technical charges but not very serious ones.
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By this time I was talking to Percy and Michael about the ramifications when I got a call from Derek who was released from Peterborough on conditions and wanted to get a lift from Huntingdon and so I told Percy and Sandie and arranged to meet them at Pathfinder House. I got changed in case we needed to see anyone in authority and then drove over in the Range Rover to find Derek with Percy in the council car park. We went off for a drink together to discuss the situation and got the full story. Derek had dropped in on the Gypsy encampment on his way to work before 6.00am and took his shotgun and a pocket of cartridges "to ward off any attacks on him".
The site of the incident was the Town Council-owned land beside Ernulf School which was fenced against Gypsies and was soon to be available to the St Neots Colts Football team whose season was starting the following weekend. His message was that the people of St Neots were fed up with them and did not want them to return again. He carried his shotgun over his shoulder, unloaded and left quickly when the Gypsies advanced on him and tried to provoke him. They alleged he loaded and pointed his gun but he denied this. The charges were that he was in possession of a shotgun in a public place without and that he was trespassing with a firearm; but not that he was responsible for menacing behaviour or of action likely to cause breach of the peace. The particular concern was of him being held overnight and then only released on conditions.
The news story that "St Neots Councillor Derek Giles was arrested and taken to Huntingdon Police Station where he was held overnight and will appear before Peterborough magistrates on two firearms charges" was stark in the extreme and we felt that it ought to be countered. The story was first on Radio Cambridgeshire, then the Cambridge Evening News and the regional ITV Anglia News as well. Derek took Percy and I to see his solicitors, Copley's of Huntingdon, and we talked over with the partner the need to redress the press reports but he wanted Derek to avoid press comment that could prejudice his case. In the end, we agreed that Derek would not comment at all; and that we would avoid comment on the events of the day in question but would tell the story of Gypsy occupation and moves to thwart them moving to another illegal site.
I took Derek home and then came back for lunch before Percy came to The Hayling View and we wrote a press statement and, after agreeing its contents with Michael and Derek, sent it off by fax to all of the newspapers. After tea, I telephoned Mum to find out how she was. She had cheered up quite a lot after her recent depression, even though today was her anniversary, and was in much better spirits. Then I went to a meeting in the new Paxton Pits Interpretive Centre for the first Users Group Meeting as the ward member. There were present representatives of HDC, RSPB, ECC, Fishing, Sailing and Water Skiing Clubs as well as the Parish Council and it was quite a positive event. Home late to find messages from two people wanting directions to my house in the morning and so I telephoned them straight away. Then to bed; quite tired after the developments of the last day or two.