We have received upwards of 300 e-mails from across the world in support of this event -- Nottingham University Forum

From: Nottingham Forum

Dear Mr. Irving

OVER the course of the past week we have been in negotiations with the University concerning your planned appearance at Forum this coming Monday 4 February.

The University have agreed that the event should go ahead. They see no reason on student-welfare grounds to stop the event occurring, despite considerable pressure placed on it by various individuals and organisations.

They have, however, insisted that we police the event. After consulting with the local police, an estimate of approximately £8,000 has been given to us as the minimum cost of policing the event. We have been told in no uncertain terms that the event cannot go forward without this cost being met.

As you may imagine, we are unable to afford or justify such a sum to the Union. Our events normally cost in the region of £1000 to organise. This cost cannot be borne by the Union and we have been unsuccessful in sourcing the funds from elsewhere.

I have attempted to negotiate with the University on this issue. It is not for me to speculate why we have been presented with this cost, other than to say that in past events, entertaining Cabinet Ministers, representatives from extremist political groups and some of the most controversial figures in British politics, we have never been confronted with such an outrageous and disproportionate cost of policing an event.

Hence it is with considerable regret that I write to apologise for the cancellation of this coming Mondays' event. I am aware that this may cause great inconvenience for you and would like to forward the apologies of Forum and our membership to you.

I have been made aware that the Students' Union newspaper, Impact, intends to run a feature on our attempts to plan this event. I understand that they maybe in contact with your over the next few days concerning a potential interview for that feature.

I shall, of course, promptly return the books and publicity which you have very kindly sent to us.

Finally, may I thank you for the many messages of support that we have received through contacts with your website. We have received upwards of 300 e-mails from across the world in support of this event and I have extended my thanks to all who have contacted us.

May I once again apologise for any inconvenience caused over the last two weeks and thank you for closely helping us to organise the event.

Yours sincerely

John Gathergood
Forum President.

Mr Irving's reply:

SORRY to hear that; please keep the boxes of books [Churchill's War, vol.ii] with my compliments and distribute the books among those who favoured the function to proceed; please set aside two copies for the University library, and one each for the top university authorities who were in favour of proceeding. There is no charge from us for this. Invite the university newspaper to contact me for comments. I shall cover the decision on my website during the next 24 hours.