West Dorset: Cycle helmet campaigner Maisy enjoy tour of 10 Downing Street (From Bridport and Lyme Regis News)
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West Dorset: Cycle helmet campaigner Maisy enjoy tour of 10 Downing Street
10:19am Wednesday 31st October 2012 in News By Anne Bell
PRIVILEGED: Maisy Attril, 10, by the front door of 10 Downing Street
The West Dorset schoolgirl who is taking her campaign to make cycle helmets compulsory to the Deputy Prime Minister has visited the heart of government – and tested out the seat of power.
Maisy Attrill from Burton Bradstock lost no time in approaching Nick Clegg when she served him lunch at her dad, Steve Attrill’s Hive Beach Cafe.
Maisy’s networking earned her and her family a VIP invitation for a behind-the-scenes tour of 10 Downing Street and a visit to the House of Commons.
Ten-year-old Maisy took the opportunity to deliver a letter to Mr Clegg, making her case for a law on cycle helmets, which she has taken up as a cause after one of the restaurant staff got knocked off their bike by a car door.
Maisy made her trip to the capital with parents Debbie and Steve, grandmother Joan Attrill, sister Emily and her boyfriend Hugo MacGregor and Emma Wills-Fuest.
“It was a brilliant day,” said Maisie.
“A guide called Michael showed us round. I sat in Winston Churchill’s chair, which was really comfy.
“Then we went into the Cabinet Room and I sat in the Prime Minister’s chair and then we went into the White Room which is like a drawing room.
“We went on an hour and a half tour of the House of Commons and we saw where the Queen gets dressed and we saw her crown.
“My gran said that in the chamber when it looks like they are all asleep they are really leaning back to listen to the speakers in the benches.”
Maisy said she doesn’t think that Mr Clegg will have had the chance to see her letter yet, but she hopes to hear from him when he has had time to read it.
She says her day in Westminster is something she will remember and she has already written more letters.
“I have sent Mr Clegg another letter – to say thank you for arranging the day – and one to Michael for taking us round,” she added.
Comments(2)
dan.keown@gmail.com
says...
9:45am Fri 9 Nov 12
Helmets do put people off cycling, and the evidence they work decreases as the quality of study increases. The best studies, done in New Zeraland by a researcher called Scuffham show almost no effect. Well, they do show a drop in head injuries but this is because of a concommitant drop in cyclists!
Maisy's passion is admirable but I would suggest she redirect it in the direction of the safest country in the world for cycling - Holland. Here, the law states that car drivers are held responsible for an accident with a bike until proven otherwise. Such a law in this country would undoubtably focus peoples minds on cyclists and make it safer for Maisy, her friends and all people to cycle.
burtthebike says...
11:17pm Wed 31 Oct 12
Nowhere with a helmet law can show any reduction in risk to cyclists, and the biggest ever research project on helmets showed an increase in risk with helmet wearing. You can't blame a ten year old for holding views which result from the propaganda she has been subject to, but you can blame those people who brainwash our children.
Cycle helmet laws have only two effects: a large fall in the number of cyclists and obscene profits for the helmet manufacturers, there is no safety benefit. Because the people deterred from cycling lose the overwhelming health benefits (regular cyclists live longer and are fitter, healthier and slimmer than the general population) the effects of such a law are very large and completely negative. Many people will die earlier and have their lives shortened, with absolutely no benefit.
Can I suggest that Maisy and anyone else contemplating calling for such a law might like to check out the facts, which can be found at cyclehelmets.org