COL HICKLING OF THE ROYAL HOSPITAL SENDS OUT BAD SIGNALS. THE DAME TELLS HIM TO 'GET A GRIP'!

This elegantly courteous letter(below) was sent to  Lt Colonel Hickling, an ex Signals chap, now i/c of the Royal Hospital.
The Dame's long deceased second(or third, she forgets) husband was a serving officer(Royal Dragoon Guards) and would never have dreamt of refusing to answer correspondence:or worse, getting his junior PA to respond on his behalf. 
Times change and this pompous and self important ex Signals officer clearly feels he is far too grand to bother with the 'locals'.

DOWNRIGHT RUDE!

Hickling, get a grip....your bad manners and discourtesy damages the reputation of the wonderful Royal Hospital

Lt Col. Andrew Hickling MBE

Director of Facilities Quartermaster,

The Royal Hospital Chelsea,

Royal Hospital Road,

Chelsea,

LONDON SW3 4SR

Dear Lt Col. Hickling, 

TREE PLANTING AT GORDON HOUSE

I am writing to you to express concern regarding the planting of trees close to the dividing wall between the rear gardens of houses in Embankment Gardens and the garden of Gordon House.   The original landscaping plans for the garden of Gordon House show a shrubbery along that wall.  That agreeable arrangement has clearly been replaced with one involving the planting of mature trees, already of considerable height and density, and quite closely spaced.  As far as I am aware there was, regrettably, no prior notice of this and certainly no consultation opportunity given to assess and consider the destructive environmental and amenity impact of such a plan of action on the residents of Embankment Gardens. 

In the circumstances I wonder if you would be so kind as to send me a copy of the Lease granted for Gordon House and also details of the planning permission for the garden of Gordon House with particular reference to the planting of new trees.  A great store was set concerning the preservation of listed trees in that garden but no mention made of what is now becoming a substantial increase in the tree numbers, in particular of trees being placed with evident and complete disregard for their effects on residents in Embankment Gardens.

Having wholeheartedly supported the laudable aims of the Royal Hospital to improve the living quarters of the ex-service men and women it has been disappointing to discover that nearby residents seem to have received little consideration in return.

Yours sincerely, 

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