Special Award for J Mark and Philip W Brewer: The Asset Stripping Bastards Order

Not a nice title, is it? But J Mark and Philip W Brewer are not nice men: they are, quite bluntly, Asset Stripping Bastards. So they get this ASBO to top all ASBOs:


These men are dangerous. Available in several different sizes: copy and post elsewhere freely: the world needs to be warned.

SPCK Bookshops Update from David Keen

Thanks to David Keen for another excellent roundup on the sad and sorry saga of the former SPCK Bookshops: well worth reading if you want a quick update on how things are panning out.

If he wasn't such a crook, I could almost feel sorry for J Mark Brewer. But he is a crook, and a prize plonker too if he thinks he's going to get away with all this: with the likes of Matt Wardman on his trail he's about as safe as a criminal being chased down by Inspector Poirot.

Interesting developments in Exeter too, which David seems to have missed from his roundup: now trading as GemStar Jewellery and Gifts, premises now owned by Messrs Anton and Joseph Lampo who bought the site for the princely sum of £507,000 back in September.

The Land Registry filing for the premises indicates the existence of "restrictive covenants" in place but doesn't tell us what those covenants consist of. Not exactly difficult to work out, though: Brewer tried to auction the premises earlier in the year but was scuppered by those covenants... which now seem to be comprehensively breached. So how, exactly, did he get away with making this sale? Scenes of dodgy dealings at the back door come to mind...

See the comments on 'Welcome to GemStar Jewellery and Gifts, Exeter' for relevant links, and Exeter: The Inside (Incomplete) Story: Part 1 and Part 2 for more background.

Fudging it at Durham Cathedral Shop

Oh dear. Poor Brewer brothers: caught with their pants down again, this time over a couple of bars of fudge.

Fudge, you see, is confectionary; and confectionery is vatable: the taxman is very hungry and he wants his cut of the takings. But at Durham Cathedral Shop they're selling it zero-rated.

Probably just another one of their dumb mistakes — like this little lot:

I suspect what this comes down to is typical, run of the mill Brewer incompetence — the kind of slapdash approach to business you’d expect from someone who:

1. Registers a company to manage the Durham Cathedral Shop under the name “Durham Cathederal Shop Management Co.” — of course, it’s possible that somebody else, equally incompetent, took care of the company registration. It’s also possible that this is a cynical way to ensure that anyone who files a claim against the “Durham Cathedral Shop Management Co.” will fail because there is, in fact, no such legal entity, but I honestly can’t see either of the Brewer Bros managing to think that far ahead, let alone that clearly;
2. Says he wants to disassociate his company from the SPCK name but continues trading under SPCK signage until Trading Standards launch an investigation;
3. Spells “Leicester” and “Worcester” as “Leichester” and “Worchester” — again, it’s entirely possible that somebody else, equally incompetent, compiled the list of shops and produced the map;
4. Denies expressing his condolences to the family of a man who committed suicide after he fired him — of course, it’s entirely possible that somebody else took the initiative for this…
5. Goes into panic mode the day before his bankruptcy filing is about to be scrutinised, realises that all the evidence needed to expose his folly is available online and starts firing off threatening C&D emails to all and sundry in a desperate bid to hide that evidence
6. When challenged about threatening Dave Walker into taking his SPCK/SSG posts down, says ‘I have no idea what you are on about’ ;
7. Can’t get the name of his own company right when he attempts to file it for bankruptcy;
8. Fails to realise that filing a UK company for bankruptcy in the USA is not allowed anyway;
9. Actually, I think that’s probably enough for now, but if someone else would like to continue this list, feel free to carry on.

How a law firm like Brewer & Pritchard PC manages to stay in business with such a klutz at the top remains a mystery…

It'd be hilarious if it wasn't wrecking people's lives and bringing Durham Cathedral into disrepute: the Fawlty Towers of Christian retail. Please, if you're reading this and you haven't signed the Petition to Save Durham Cathedral Bookshop, just get on over there now and sign it. These parasites must go.

We may have thieves in the cathedral, but we always reply to our post on time

So says the Dean of Durham in a recent message to those who have petitioned him about the vermin currently infesting Durham Cathedral's Great Kitchen:

For the avoidance of doubt:

I need to state once again that the Cathedral Chaper does not manage the shop in its Great Kichen. This is run as a franchise subject to strict business law, as it was in the days of SPCK. Not all petitioners appear to be clear that a franchise is a formal, legal arrangement to which the parties to it are bound.

I ask petitioner no. 273 (Daid Baxter) to note that this “business within the Cathedral” is NOT managed, is NOT controlled and is NOT run by the Cathedral itself. His comment that “letters sent to the Cathedral authorities go unanswered” is incorrect and I ask him to withdraw it. Whatever he means by this, I can assure him and everyone else that all correspondence addressed to the Cathdral is responded to efficiently and professionally (and, I need not add, all its debts are paid when due).

Michael Sadgrove
Dean

November 29, 2008, 3:43pm

I know churches tend to be infested by bats in the belfry or rats in the basement. But at Durham Cathedral it's worse, much worse: they've got Brewers in the Great Kitchen. Yuk. Disgusting. If you value your health, please don't go there.

The Dean seems to think they're stuck with 'em but there's a very simple solution: stop feeding 'em.

Starve the vermin out.

It's OK to be Gay

It's just not OK to talk about it. That seems to be about the only conclusion you can draw from Father Geoff Farrow's situation. His Bishop wants "the faithful" to vote in favour of "Proposition 8", a move that would reverse California's recently won right for same-sex couples to marry. So Fr Geoff said no, he couldn't and wouldn't encourage his congregation to go down that road, and nor would he go there himself.

The result? Thrown out.

Two items of good news, however:

1. There's now a facebook group expressing solidarity with Fr Geoff:
We Support Father Geoff Farrow

2. Apple have stepped into the fray with this announcement:

No on Prop 8
October 24, 2008
Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.

Well done, Apple!

SPCK/SSG Exeter: Shop Fittings for Sale

As advertised in the Bookseller, 17 October 2008, p.45:


Not sure that this gets anyone anywhere with the speculation about the old Exeter shop, but here's a transcript of the ad:

Bookshop furniture for sale
Oak effect furniture, pristine condition.

- 26 bookcases (2070 x 800 x 350)*
- 5 card holders with storage draws (1270 x 590 x 605)
- 4 free standing display units (1220 x 800 x 675)
- 2 Large shop tills.
*all measurements in millimetres
Plus many other bookshop furnishings, including plastic accessories and slat walling.

Located at 1-2 Catherine Street, Cathedral Yard, Exeter, EX11EU,
for enquiries please phone: Grant on: 07799845084
Emma on: 07845468625

This begs several questions: who are Greg and Emma? Do they own the property or are they agents acting on behalf of SPCK or SSG? Or are they selling it on behalf of the new tenants or the landlord? And who gets the proceeds from the sale? Shouldn't it be going to the unpaid workers or suppliers?

As for "pristine condition", see Neil Denham's SPCK Bookshop Exeter - R.I.P. — that sure doesn't look like pristine condition to me...

And finally, as David Keen points out, one has to wonder about the bookshop paperwork...

Karaoke Award for Pauline Edwards

For Being Creative:

J Mark Brewer, please listen up!

This is truly impressive. Considering Mark Brewer's own obnoxious style — witness his correspondence with Sam Norton, for instance — the "We Support Dave Walker" facebook group has written an astonishingly polite letter asking him to withdraw his threats of legal action against Dave Walker.

So, to help ensure that Mr Brewer can't miss it, here it is again. Mr Brewer, please listen up!

Dear Mr. Brewer

We are writing on behalf of 498 supporters of cartoonist and blogger Dave Walker, a group which includes bishops, national journalists in the UK and US, lawyers, clergy, and concerned members of the public.

We would like to ask you please to contact Dave Walker and withdraw the demands made in the 'Cease and Desist' letter which you sent him in July. Your letter, as far as we know, instructed Dave to remove all his posts about the recent history of SPCK bookshops or face action for libel. With the pressures of the impending Lambeth conference, and a very short deadline given by yourself, Dave complied. He commented at the time: “I have therefore removed all of the SPCK/SSG posts on this blog, as, although I believe I have not done anything wrong I do not have the money to face a legal battle. The removal of these posts is in no way an admission of guilt.”

Many of us have read the posts concerned, and are surprised, to say the least, that they could be called libelous. Indeed, the first three posts make no mention at all of yourself, the Society of St. Stephen the Great, or anyone associated with you. The 4th post reports your takeover of the bookshops with the comment “this is splendid news.” Another post is a simple link to your SSG video on YouTube. Other items include verbatim reports of your own statements, and in the simple post on the death of Steve Jeynes, dozens of people used the comments to expressed their grief and condolences to Steve’s family.

Dave is a reasonable man, and if all critics were as fair as he is the world would be a better place. If you were able to reconsider, and point out specific statements and claims you were unhappy with, we are sure Dave would be happy to correct them where appropriate. This is the normal process of debate on the internet, and in real life, and follows the strong tradition of free speech for which our countries stand and are rightly proud.

So this is a polite request from all of us: please contact Dave Walker, advise him that your ‘cease and desist’ communication no longer stands, and let him report freely.

Yours sincerely

8 signatories representing the ‘We Support Dave Walker’ group.

Thanks to David Keen for taking this initiative!

A Stench from the Brewery

Specifically, this stench: Durham Cathedral Bookshop: Mark Brewer Responds.

A distressed woman writes to Mark Brewer expressing concern at the loss of a page of tributes to her friend, Steve Jeynes, a man who committed suicide after Mark Brewer ignominiously fired him by email.

The page has gone missing because Mark Brewer threatened Dave Walker, the owner of the page, with legal action.

How does Mark Brewer respond? Graciously, with an apology and a letter to Dave Walker explaining that he didn't mean to include that page in his demands?

NO: instead he replies with a parody of the distressed woman's email as though he were involved in some sort of word-play game.

Putting it bluntly: it stinks. It stinks to high heaven.

Pipped to the Post!!

Drat. I just missed being Matt Wills' 1,000th visitor:

Still, I suppose being 1,001st isn't too bad. Where's the party, Matt??

13: Unlucky for some - especially if your name's J Mark Brewer

It's back to school for J Mark Brewer:

13. Finally, with respect to deterring future conduct, the Trustee requests that Mr. Brewer and his firm be sanctioned an additional $10,000 payable to the Clerk of Court and that Mr. Brewer be required to complete 20 hours of continuing legal education in the area of legal ethics over the next year and file a certificate of completion with the Court.

From Motion For Sanctions Against J. Mark Brewer and the Law Firm of Brewer & Pritchard, P.C., posted today at SPCK/SSG: News, Notes & Info

Go there to read the rest, along with Matt Wardman's analysis.

Diary Date: Meeting for ex-SPCK Staff and Other Interested Parties

SPCK/SSG News
Keep up to date with an RSS or Email subscription:

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Cross-posted from SPCK Watch:

Next Wednesday there is a meeting being held in London. Details of time and where are here http://spckssg.wordpress.com/diary/

What we need now though are two things: firstly I need to know you are coming. It is open to exSPCK/SSG staff (and current staff if you are willing to come) and those in the publishing/bookselling world. Other interested people can come but let me know please at spckrefugee@operamail.com

Secondly we need to get an agenda together. A lot has happened in the months since this meeting was called. The death of Steve Jeynes. The pension chaos. The petition concerning the Durham shop. The bankrupty case being thrown out. Shops openning in Cardiff and soon to open in Norwich and elsewhere. In all this how can we support each other beyond the blogs? How can we support those who want to start a bookshop to replace the old SPCK/SSG one? How can we provide emotional support for each other? How can we continue to make sure that something rises from the mass destruction caused by the Brewers? Again please let me know what you want discussed. the email to use is the same as above spckrefugee@operamail.com.

Phelim

J Mark Brewer: Topping the WordPress Charts

Well you have to hand it to Mr Brewer, he sure knows how to get to the top of the charts...



And congratulations, of course, to Squiggle Jones on helping Mr Brewer find his way: the generous act of a true friend.

Strictly Confidential: A Private and Personal Message for...

Yes, you know who it's for. 

But feel free to say who you think it should be for...

We Shall Sland er... Stand. Sorry: typo.

It seems it was all a mistake. The mighty Mr J Mark Brewer lost track of who he was and didn't realise that it was him posting, so — apparently; have to say 'apparently' because, of course, one can never be certain, even of uncertainty — he signed in to Doug Chaplin's blog with a different email address and denied himself.

What's weirdest is what he seems to have chosen to deny. One of his ex-employees topped himself so Mr Brewer posted a message offering his condolences. Then he came back and said actually it wasn't him that posted that message.

So the good Revd Doug, smelling one mouse-click too many, checked the IP address for both messages and, yes, you've guessed it: identical, and both originating from that haven of caring compassionate Texas lawyers, devoted to service, I'll have you know, Blooper and Stitchard. Sorry, typo: Brewer and Pritchard.

It's all getting kinda messy, methinks. In truth, it stinks. But as somebody said, "What is truth?" Sensible guy, he knew how to fix it: just nail it down. Nice & easy, wash your hands in front of the crowds, smile for the cameras.

Except nails and things are a bit messy in this day and age: far easier to fire off a Cease and Desist by email, especially when you're an "exceptionally well trained" lawyer who knows how to say all the right things. Oh look: A Case Study.

High Weirdness: all praise to Bob!

Dave Walker for President

No doubt about it, people: Dave Walker of Cartoon Church infamy is the man. He's been blasted by a Texas lawyer for crimes against... err... bookshops or something.

Actually no one has yet managed to work out exactly what he's done but hey, y'know, them Texas dudes they sure can shoot. So they did. I think Davey baby looked at 'em sideways or something and he got it in the neck. But y'know, if you're gonna start shooting in enclosed places like the blogosphere you gotta beware of the richochets, dontcha know? 

Hey those bullets went everywhere — blam blam blam blame the cartoonist, ya.

Yaaargh! Ye-ha, ride 'im cowboy. Helluva ride, bucko!

Check it out. Wild or what? And you can now download the entire buckaroo of those SLAPPed Dave Walker posts as a pdf. Go, Matt, go!!

Revd Dr Christian Troll, ah hereby appoint you, sir, yes indeed you, sir, as my attorney at law and mah personal mentor. Hallelujah!

I Believe

I believe in God,
the mother, weeping,
wandering heaven and earth,
seeing but unseen.
I believe in all people,
her children,
begotten of her womb,
born of her blood,
one with her.
Through her our world is shaped,
our lives are made.
For our sake she wanders,
seeking the lost,
leading us home.
For our sake she suffers,
dies, and rises.
On the third day she stands,
still weeping for her children.
She ascends to heaven,
she returns to earth,
for she cannot abandon her own,
living or dead.
She breathes life:
her breath is life.
She seeks neither worship
nor glory,
only longing to be known
by her own.
She speaks through the trees,
through the birds and the sky.
She swims the ocean:
she is the ocean;
she is baptism;
She is life,
the life of the world,
yesterday, today
and for ever.
Amen.

Purpose Circus

Can there really be any sort of purpose
To this crazy game of trying to get around
Or are we just clowns performing in a circus,
Being laughed at by an audience we've not found?

I don't reckon there's a reason
I see no point in being around
No way do I believe in reason -
I'm just accepting what I've found:

People going 'round in endless circles
Lost and feeling all alone
Life's just one big endless circle
And you've got to get around it on your own...

Finding God

The God who was
is not the God who is:
that God is dead,
slaughtered
by the insanity
of humanity.

Where are you now, my God?
My God, my God...
The cry of a mother
who lost her child
My God, my God...
The cry of a child
who lost his mother
My God, my God...
The cry of a God crucified
who lost himself.

Where are you now, my God?
Is that your face I see
in a beer glass...
in the roots of a tree...
in me?

What kind of God are you?
A delusion? A dream?
A home I can run to
when the fire falls
and the bombs explode
and the bullets scream
and the blood flows
and my tears stream,
never ending,
down my face?

I fear, my God,
that I shall never find you
unless you first find me.