TS Hermes - Tiverton Sea Cadets

Tiverton: WWI Naval Gun [Lime Kiln Road] – Playing in the 1970s Was Very Different! (5.7.2025)

I was born in Oxford – but my parents moved to Tiverton (in East Devon) in 1970. I started school (Wilcombe) in 1972 (when 5-years old) – but changed to a school in Exeter in 1977. However, I have a memory of joining (after school) a group of classmates who “played” on a WWI Naval Gun situated on a public street (situated in Lime Kiln Road)! I have lived in Sutton (South-West Greater London) for over three-decades today – but recently – whilst picking-up my children from school in Cheam, I saw youths dressed in the uniforms of what is today termed the “Combined Cadet Force”, and the thought of myself once playing on a military gun (around 1977) bubbled-up in my mind (although publicly accessible – the gun in question was placed outside the Tiverton Sea Cadets Training Hall). In fact, after having experienced many interest things in my life (including four wonderful years based in Hereford during the 1980s), and having travelled around the world, I surprised myself with this memory and was not even sure it was real!

Li Yuefeng, a former national legislator and senior official with the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League

China: Li Yuefeng – Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League – Sentenced to Life Imprisonment! (5.7.2025)

The court said Li was guilty of bribery and should be severely punished as the amount involved was “extremely large”, causing “extremely great losses” to the country and the people. However, it showed leniency in sentencing because Li voluntarily disclosed bribes unknown to investigators and returned illicit gains, and some bribes were unsuccessful.

Li, born in Chongqing in 1958, began his career in 1976 and joined the league in 2001. Founded in 1947, the league is one of eight non-Communist parties that participate in State affairs under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

He worked as a lawyer in Chongqing’s procuratorial system for years. In March 2024, authorities placed him under investigation for alleged serious duty-related violations while he was serving as executive vice-chairman of the league and as a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th NPC, China’s top legislative body.

Li was removed from office and expelled from the league late last year. In March, prosecutors indicted him on bribery charges, leading to the trial in April.