A FORMER "Fat Lady" made a clarion call to the countryside to stand up against the town when she opened an East Yorkshire village show.
Clarissa Dickson-Wright, formerly of Two Fat Ladies fame, and now star of Clarissa And The Countryman, spoke out while opening the Bugthorpe Craft and Horticultural Show.
Ms Dickson-Wright called for the countryside to stand up against the encroachment and pressure put on it by the town - and Westminster in particular.
"I think at the moment the spin merchants and townies are trying to push the countryside that bit too far.
"If you live in the countryside these days you feel everybody in Westminster is against you, whether it's hunting or everything else.
"The last time we had this, with the unfair taxes, too much pressure and bad laws, it basically resulted in Oliver Cromwell and the Civil War.
"So I think I would be quite happy to go to the barricades for this. I have never catered for a Civil War before."
The BBC star had enjoyed an early morning hunt before arriving to open the show.
"This kind of show sums it all up, with people of all ages and accents. It gives a real sense of community, and is an important part of country life I am very happy to support."
Updated: 10:50 Monday, September 15, 2003
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