How seasonally serendipitous that the first real show of Mother Nature flexing her winter muscles coincided with a “snowflake” storm of a different sort.
As the white stuff covered Courier country roads and pavements, down they descended on Angus.
The flurry of lily-livered comments from a moribund shower of cotton wool-wrapped do-gooders, blessed only with a puritanical outlook and sense of humour bypass.
What else could possibly explain the rush to condemn the news that the area is going to be treated to the talents of one of Britain’s best “jokists” – a figure who has tickled the funny bone of the nation for decades.
Such is this stand-up’s remarkable depth of talent he’s still pulling the punters in in their droves into his 70s and, even better, the routine that’ll have them rolling in the aisles of Montrose Town Hall will raise vital charity cash for local causes.
A real win-win.
But only if you consider courting controversy and inviting past-its-sell-by-date obscenity into the local spotlight as the double measure of success.
Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown is setting the sat nav north and bringing his unique brand of humour, patchwork suit, flying helmet and googles with him.
The promotional posters might say it’s bold and blue – critics have slated it as bigoted, homophobic, misogynstic, racist, sexist and virtually every other “ist” in the book of discrimination.
As a result, a string of councils across the country have pulled the welcome mat out from under the feet of Royston Vasey – his real name – and banned him.
That Chubbs has a loyal following isn’t in dispute, as a gander at the social media postings of neandarthal acolytes who talk very much the language of the ribald Royston will confirm.
And he’s made it clear he doesn’t care about what snowflakes like me think.
I wonder if there’s enough discomfort within the ranks of our local decision-makers that an elected member might pop an emergency motion onto the agenda of this week’s full council to allow a reasoned debate on whether Mr Vasey’s invitation represents the values Angus really wants to promote.
For reasons that have nothing to do with moral decency, inclusivity or equality, and all to do with petty politicking which is as tawdry as the trash which comes out of Mr Vasey’s foul mouth I can’t see that being allowed to happen.
