• Contact us
  • About us
  • Digital edition
  • Online archive
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

    Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

    Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

    Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

    £15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

    £15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

    Changes to business rates

    Changes to business rates

    Tesco Express opens doors in Penrith

    Tesco Express opens doors in Penrith

    Nursing award for Penrith’s Fay Dudson

    Nursing award for Penrith’s Fay Dudson

  • Sport
    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
  • News
    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Multiple fire crews tackle roof fire in Crosby Ravensworth

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

    Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

    Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

    Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

    Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

    £15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

    £15 million luxury care home plans for Penrith

    Changes to business rates

    Changes to business rates

    Tesco Express opens doors in Penrith

    Tesco Express opens doors in Penrith

    Nursing award for Penrith’s Fay Dudson

    Nursing award for Penrith’s Fay Dudson

  • Sport
    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    Penrith gymnasts represent North of England in finals

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    New boss revealed for Penrith AFC

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Penrith Panthers celebrate winning season

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Darren Edmondson leaves Penrith AFC

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Lucy plays key role in county T20 triumph

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Gold for Keith in annual festival of orienteering

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Cumberland and Westmorland wrestlers head to European championships

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

    Kirkby Stephen Hockey Club win league title

  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • Buy Photos
  • Buy your paper
  • North Lakes Living
No Result
View All Result
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald
No Result
View All Result
Home Ross Brewster

A bald man has sued for sexual harassment – I say keep your wig on, mate

by CWH
18 October 2024
in Ross Brewster
A A
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Picture: Pete Linforth / Pixabay

Nobbut Laiking, by Ross Brewster

Three judges have ruled that calling someone bald is sexual harassment in the workplace. All those old insults, like baldy, boiled egg and slaphead, are not only potentially offensive, they could land the person issuing them in court.

An electrician called Tony Finn, who one assumes is follicly challenged, brought a case to the High Court claiming he was harassed by his boss during a heated argument and that a supervisor called him a stupid, bald … (third word omitted for decency).

Seems the judges see it as a gender issue as baldness is more prevalent in men than in women. There are 6.5 million males experiencing baldness in this country.

Baldness runs in my family. My dad was bald as far back as my mother could remember. He always kept his hat on when they were courting. She claimed she married him under false pretences, only discovering his secret on the wedding night.

My brother lost most of his hair by the time he was 21. He tried all sorts of remedies, most of them exceedingly smelly, without success.

My hair started receding when I was about that age, but strangely it began growing back again. I have pictures showing I had far more hair at 40 than I did at 20. I now have an extensive sunroof, but at 77 I am beyond the age of vanity.

You wonder how such a matter ever came before the courts at all. I thought our judges and lawyers were being driven hairless by overwork on serious cases that are taking forever to come to a hearing. Only this week the Government expressed concern about the backlog of Crown Court hearings.

All I can say is we must be getting too thin skinned these days. Ah, but is thin skinned not an insult and harassment?

I suppose for people who feel lacking in self-confidence being made aware of their baldness is unpleasant. And it really isn’t very nice to draw attention to something that’s obviously sensitive.

It reminds me of Coronation Street when it was funny and not involved with social issues. Fred the barman came in to work one evening with a huge lump of material on his head. No-one in the Rovers dare say a word.

There used to be a fast bowler in county cricket who, during a match at Old Trafford, lost his crown topper as he delivered the ball. It narrowly missed taking off the bails at his end. 

Most times it’s easier to accept fate and go bald like a lad I once played football with. On a muddy winter’s day the ball was heavy, the pitch soggy and, after heading a couple of crosses away, he simply whipped off his dishevelled wig and carried it in his hand for the rest of the match.

Now that’s how to deal with follicular loss.

Another thing. Use the term “bird” to describe a female fellow office worker and you could find yourself in hot water.

Clearly many women find “bird” offensive and would have it consigned to a less correct past along with the wolf whistle. Yet years ago it might have been regarded as a misguided compliment. The judge sitting at an employment tribunal has ruled the terminology “derogatory” when used in the workplace.

Language and the interpretation of words has changed over the years. What was once a harmless joke may now be something taken in deadly seriousness. Mind your language. And that’s the bald truth of the matter.

Big cat believers

Already a reader has been in touch with a big cat sighting. As recent as last weekend in fact.

I wrote about my own encounter of the dark kind. Turning off the M6 slip road at Penrith a creature skipped silently across in front of me and disappeared into the undergrowth. Subsequent inquiries served to convince me it was something with feline movement, but much larger than a domestic cat.

My correspondent tells me there are big cats in Cumbria and his latest sighting was not his first. I had not been drinking and I wasn’t dreaming and the more I find out the more I am convinced.

Reality dawning for new MPs

It’s difficult to comprehend the mix of excitement and apprehension felt by the hundreds of new MPs who took their place in the Commons for the first time following the election.

Much as we criticise politicians, I have no doubt most of them have a genuine desire to serve their constituents.

However, they can’t just sound off with their personal opinions. It’s about the party and many MPs must have swallowed hard before voting to drop the winter fuel allowance for pensioners. It was harsh reality in a double dose for those who voted against their gut feeling.

Transport minister Louise Haigh was quietly brought into line last weekend after her remarks about a ferry company had brought her into conflict with the government and possibly put a billion pound investment in jeopardy.

Being an MP can be a frustrating job. A minister more so. It won’t have taken long for that reality to dawn for the newbies.

Tags: premium

Related Posts

Haven’t police got anything better to do than pursuing ‘non-crime’ hate incidents?
Ross Brewster

Haven’t police got anything better to do than pursuing ‘non-crime’ hate incidents?

22 November 2024
Can someone pull some rabbits out of the hat to lighten the mood?
Ross Brewster

Can someone pull some rabbits out of the hat to lighten the mood?

8 November 2024
Fining parents isn’t the answer to school truancy problem
Ross Brewster

Fining parents isn’t the answer to school truancy problem

1 November 2024
Have we become a nation of wimps?
Ross Brewster

Have we become a nation of wimps?

25 October 2024
We need to relearn the lost art of making small talk
Ross Brewster

We need to relearn the lost art of making small talk

4 October 2024
Subbuteo is still alive and flicking
Ross Brewster

Subbuteo is still alive and flicking

27 September 2024
No Result
View All Result

Stay connected

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Most popular

Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

Penrith bar relaunched with vibrant events planned

30 May 2025
Sheep showing season begins

Sheep showing season begins

30 May 2025
Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

Penrith Beacon access closed after vandalism

30 May 2025
Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

Free domestic abuse support drop-in service launches in Penrith

30 May 2025
Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

Fire crews spend six hours tackling blaze at timber firm’s headquarters

29 May 2025
Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

Penrith teen crowned British vault champion

30 May 2025
Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Logo

33 Middlegate
Penrith
Cumbria
CA11 7SY

Phone: 01768 862313
Email: news@cwherald.com

Registered in England as Barrnon Media Limited. No: 12475190
VAT registration number: 343486488

Explore

  • News
  • Sport
  • Farming
  • Property
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Your view

Useful links

  • Contact us
  • Photosales
  • Online archive
  • Buy your paper
  • Digital edition
  • North Lakes Living
  • Advertise
  • About us

Follow us on

© Barrnon Media Limited 2020

Terms & Conditions / Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy

This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation
IPSO Logo
Review Your Cart
0
Discount
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal
Total Installment Payments
Bundle Discount
Checkout

 
0
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Obituaries
  • Nostalgia
  • Online archive
  • more
    • North Lakes Living
    • Buy Photos
    • Buy your paper
    • About us
    • Contact us

© 2020 Cumberland & Westmorland Herald