Wolfsbane 12,944 Posted March 17, 2020 11 hours ago, iainb said: You'd hope that Branson would dip into his $4 billion to help folk out wouldn't you? If he were to divide his fortune amongst his employees each one would receive $466,690... probably enough to see them through If he's short of a few bob he could flog his Carribean island. He's made a hell of a lot of money out of the labours of his employees over the years. Now they need him, he's gone missing. Shouldn't get a penny piece out of the taxpayer. 7 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bald Bloke 3,281 Posted March 18, 2020 The care home where my daughter works has stopped visits. Must be hard to explain that to the dementia patients. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RobMcCaffery 2,752 Posted March 18, 2020 28 minutes ago, Bald Bloke said: The care home where my daughter works has stopped visits. Must be hard to explain that to the dementia patients. Having had to cope with the 'death before death' of both parents I doubt many would realise, tragically. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
no-brakes-uk 76 Posted March 18, 2020 9 hours ago, Wolfsbane said: If he's short of a few bob he could flog his Carribean island. He's made a hell of a lot of money out of the labours of his employees over the years. Now they need him, he's gone missing. Shouldn't get a penny piece out of the taxpayer. Branson only owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic. The rest is owned by Air France KLM and Delta Airlines Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfsbane 12,944 Posted March 18, 2020 1 hour ago, no-brakes-uk said: Branson only owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic. The rest is owned by Air France KLM and Delta Airlines And? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattK 3,447 Posted March 18, 2020 12 hours ago, Wolfsbane said: If he's short of a few bob he could flog his Carribean island. He's made a hell of a lot of money out of the labours of his employees over the years. Now they need him, he's gone missing. Shouldn't get a penny piece out of the taxpayer. I've seen a few people say this. Let's just say the UK airline industry receives no state support and Virgin Atlantic goes bust. Branson is still there on his private island surrounded by supermodels, but how does that help their employees who've lost their jobs? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfsbane 12,944 Posted March 18, 2020 24 minutes ago, MattK said: I've seen a few people say this. Let's just say the UK airline industry receives no state support and Virgin Atlantic goes bust. Branson is still there on his private island surrounded by supermodels, but how does that help their employees who've lost their jobs? 'If he's short of a few bob he could flog his Caribbean island'. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattK 3,447 Posted March 18, 2020 54 minutes ago, Wolfsbane said: 'If he's short of a few bob he could flog his Caribbean island'. He's not short of a few bob, that's the point. His share of Virgin Atlantic is worth about £70m. It won't materially impact him if it goes bust, but it will have significant impacts on the livelihoods of the circa 8,500 employees. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wolfsbane 12,944 Posted March 18, 2020 21 minutes ago, MattK said: He's not short of a few bob, that's the point. His share of Virgin Atlantic is worth about £70m. It won't materially impact him if it goes bust, but it will have significant impacts on the livelihoods of the circa 8,500 employees. The point of the original post was that once he's used up all of his own money supporting the employees who got him where he is he can then come for taxpayer cash. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MattK 3,447 Posted March 18, 2020 4 minutes ago, Wolfsbane said: The point of the original post was that once he's used up all of his own money supporting the employees who got him where he is he can then come for taxpayer cash. The original post is nonsense. Firstly, having a net worth of £4bn is not the same as having lots of cash sitting around, which is precisely what companies need when they are have cash flow problems. Secondly, the government guarantees asked for by the airline industry does not primarily help Branson, they help the employees of Virgin Atlantic who stand to be impacted much more if the company folds than Branson does. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jrs 3,290 Posted March 18, 2020 6 hours ago, no-brakes-uk said: Branson only owns 49% of Virgin Atlantic. The rest is owned by Air France KLM and Delta Airlines It's Delta that pull the strings at Virgin now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rusky 113 Posted March 18, 2020 17 hours ago, uk_martin said: UK meetings have either a Red Cross or St Johns Ambulance in attendance, with volunteer crews and one duty paramedic. The ambulance and it's crew are there for riders and the public. Not sure what the equipment levels in these ambulances are, but plenty has been the time when a "county ambulance" has been summoned. (a quaint term when you are in a big city lol) But basically from a lay-perspective, the Ambulance cover seems to be there to basically provide an on-site mobile medical facility. If someone needs taking to hospital it's a 999 call and an NHS ambulance that's called in to do the hospital run. Maybe that's different the further from a hospital you are. Birmingham's track is only 15 minutes from the nearest hospital, arrangements may be different for more remote tracks. In the days when I was involved in speedway, the reason for a 'County' Ambulance is priority at A&E. Effectively (so we were told) private ambulances are not emergency ambulances, hence the lower priority. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tyretrax 2,252 Posted March 18, 2020 1 hour ago, rusky said: In the days when I was involved in speedway, the reason for a 'County' Ambulance is priority at A&E. Effectively (so we were told) private ambulances are not emergency ambulances, hence the lower priority. Different situation now though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DBP 64 Posted March 19, 2020 Just seen that Daniel Bewley thinks corona virus is a joke and that its not a major threat, he's winging that he's out of work, well millions of others are in the same boat. Just hope non of his relatives catch the virus he then might change his tune selfish little sod. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ray Stadia 1,064 Posted March 19, 2020 33 minutes ago, DBP said: Just seen that Daniel Bewley thinks corona virus is a joke and that its not a major threat, he's winging that he's out of work, well millions of others are in the same boat. Just hope non of his relatives catch the virus he then might change his tune selfish little sod. I do feel sorry for all those who are self employed and those that live from hand to mouth, which runs into millions. In my opinion, globally, it has become an over blown hysteria. I blame the hysteria on the media and social media, which have both put severe pressure on the worlds governments. If this had happened, say, 10 or 20 years ago, when social media was still in its infancy, it would have been in the news yes, but not wall to wall and 24/7 and it would have been another seasonal virus that we needed to dodge, if possible. But the Genie is out now and God help us all! The worry for me, is not so much the virus, but the way man has reacted across the world. Two words worry me, civil unrest 11 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites