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Blind man thrown out of pub for wearing the wrong trousers (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Blind man thrown out of pub for wearing the wrong trousers
7:00am Saturday 11th October 2008
A PUB has apologised to a blind man who was ordered to leave for wearing the wrong trousers.
Eddie Dancer was told his track suit bottoms had breached the pub’s “no sports trousers” policy and had to leave the beer garden in which he and friend Lorraine Way were enjoying an afternoon drink.
The couple’s visit to the Richmond Arms in Charminster was a rare outing for 50-year-old Mr Dancer, who rarely leaves the house since he suddenly went blind six years ago.
Mr Dancer, of Columbian Way, Slades Farm, said: “I was upset and surprised. I had a pair of tracksuit bottoms on but they were brand new – they weren’t tatty or dirty.
“I couldn’t believe it. I used to go in the Richmond Arms before I lost my sight and it’s just an ordinary local pub, not somewhere you would expect to dress up for.
“It was the first time I had been out for months and it has knocked my confidence. We were having a nice day and this completely ruined it.”
Friend Lorraine is equally upset and claims other drinkers were in the pub wearing shorts and work boots. She said Mr Dancer finds track suit trousers easier to wear because of the lack of belts and buttons.
“We were eating our chips when a girl came from nowhere and said they had a no sports trousers policy in the pub,” she said.
“I thought it was a joke at first, I thought she must have known Eddie and was having a laugh.
“But then we realised she was serious. She said we could finish our drinks and chips but we had to go after that.
“He felt embarrassed but I was furious. It has taken a whole team of carers and family and a great deal of support to encourage Eddie to get out of the house. All we wanted to do was sit in the sunshine.”
Mike O’Leary, manager for the Richmond Arms, said: “I want to apologise to Mr Dancer for this incident.
“We do have a dress code on tracksuits. However, it’s up to the manager’s discretion on how it is implemented. “It was an honest misunderstanding by one of our staff and will not happen again. Mr Dancer is welcome in the pub at any time.”
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Your Say YourEcho
2Much...again!, Ringwood says...
9:00am Sat 11 Oct 08
MJD, HAMWORTHY says...
9:18am Sat 11 Oct 08
Frank28, Hants says...
9:18am Sat 11 Oct 08
oliver_1, bournemouth says...
9:39am Sat 11 Oct 08
Tango Charlie, Bournemouth says...
9:41am Sat 11 Oct 08
Was a white stick on show? An arm band perhaps? The usual sort of things suggested by the Highway Code that would indicate to a driver that the had to take extra care.
If not, then I would understand why the pub did not make an intitial allowance for him.
Furthermore, was he told to leave before, or after, they knew he was blind?
2Much...again!, Ringwood says...
9:50am Sat 11 Oct 08
oliver_1 wrote:If your Dad knows him, then surely he knows that disabled people don't want "special" treatment..the majority just wanted be treated like everyone else..individuals. It's stories like this that gives the "pity" issue..and most disabled people don't want pity.
my dad knows this man quite well and he said that eddie suffers bad with his legs and they swell up so he has no option but to wear tracksuit bottoms.i think it is disgusting the way they approached him knowing he was blind !
nobull, bournemouth says...
11:15am Sat 11 Oct 08
nobull, bournemouth says...
11:16am Sat 11 Oct 08
Zzzz, Poole says...
3:01pm Sat 11 Oct 08
Sariain, Poole says...
9:55pm Sat 11 Oct 08
Tango Charlie wrote:What!!! Was a white stick on show!! An arm band!! This isn't Nazi Germany! Your attitude towards Blind people is offensive. Why does it matter if he was Blind? The most shocking part of this story is that the Richmond Arms has a dress code.
Although initially shocked by the story. I would like to enquire if the gentleman was showing any indication that he was blind?
Was a white stick on show? An arm band perhaps? The usual sort of things suggested by the Highway Code that would indicate to a driver that the had to take extra care.
If not, then I would understand why the pub did not make an intitial allowance for him.
Furthermore, was he told to leave before, or after, they knew he was blind?
As a parent of a blind child who is learning independence (not dependence), I would suggest that Mr Dancer has not been provided with the right support. I would suggest www.worldaccessforth
eblind.org as a starting point.
2Much...again!, Ringwood says...
9:33am Sun 12 Oct 08
Tango Charlie wrote:Why should the pub make an allowance for him?
Although initially shocked by the story. I would like to enquire if the gentleman was showing any indication that he was blind?
Was a white stick on show? An arm band perhaps? The usual sort of things suggested by the Highway Code that would indicate to a driver that the had to take extra care.
If not, then I would understand why the pub did not make an intitial allowance for him.
Furthermore, was he told to leave before, or after, they knew he was blind?
Why should he have a white stick or armband? Would it be for his benefit or everyone else's?
It makes me mad that these stories get into the spotlight.
I agree with Sariain, this bloke should have better support.
AnnoyedBoscombe, Bournemouth says...
11:36am Sun 12 Oct 08
These stories and the comments about the "disgusting behaviour" do nothing to bring disabled people into the community. Had he murdered someone would be being blind be a justification? No of course not it would be mad to say it was so when someone who has a visual disability breaks a different kind of rule their vision should not be an issue.
This is a real non story and I cannot believe it has made the paper to be honest.
djd, bournemouth says...
6:40pm Sun 12 Oct 08
Another Echo non-story, just gives publicity to these stupid dress codes and their enforcement. If that pub doesn't want his money, I'm sure there is one that does.
wvmatt, USA says...
5:37pm Mon 13 Oct 08
11:36am Sun 12 Oct 08
Blind or not he did not follow the dress code. It does not matter whether he could see. They asked him to leave after finishing his meal they didn't throw him out for the sake of it.
These stories and the comments about the "disgusting behaviour" do nothing to bring disabled people into the community. Had he murdered someone would be being blind be a justification? No of course not it would be mad to say it was so when someone who has a visual disability breaks a different kind of rule their vision should not be an issue.
This is a real non story and I cannot believe it has made the paper to be honest.
+++++++
Once again, it proves that Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity. YOUR COMMENTS are totally without merit. 1) How is a blind man to know that there is a dress code. 2) If they were serious about enforcing the dress would he have been let in the building to begin with. NOTICE...HE WAS ALLOWED TO "FINISH" HIS FOOD AND DRINK. Again, should he not have been told about the so called dress code prior to ordering his food. JUST SOME THOUGHTS. And above all, would his "friend" who I assume can see, not have made any comments if said "Dress Code" was posted in plain sight, UM, LIKE AT THE FRONT DOOR. I smell a law suit coming on.
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UPSET: Blind man Eddie Dancer who was turned away from the Richmond Arms in Charminster because he was wearing jogging bottoms
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amused, poole says...
8:06am Sat 11 Oct 08