Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 20th January, 2011)

Oh dear............

What a really nice and unusual shot. Pity it was doing what comes naturally. Looks like a new grave as well.

Is that where Edward Fox is buried

oh my,is it cocking its leg on the headstone?

Now thats really takin the - - - - !

Was it really necessary to publish this highly disrespectful photograph, which might cause real distress to the deceased's family and friends were they to see it?

get a life responsible its only nature. the fox dosnt know what a church yard is. it could of done it at night time and we wouldnt be none the wiser.who knows what gos on in a church yard at night? its a very good pic rev

You should not have shown that photo of that fox p--- on childs grave you should have more sense,

Get a life, Cullie? I suggest you get a sense of right and wrong. Do you really think it right to publish a photo of a fox urinating on a child's grave, particularly given that the child is recently deceased?

Apart from your moral sense, your spelling and punctuation need urgent attention.

Now I know why the fox is a member of the same family as the domestic dog. Right or wrong as to what its doing its a good photo.

I think that at least, the lettering on the stone should have been blurred, but you would need the the software.

The 13-year-old died in 1893. From St Mary's Baptism Registers (now online), she was probably the daughter of Edward and Sarah Park of 8 Alfred Street, Lower Ince. Edward was an Engine driver. The fox is probably marking its territory, rather than relieving itself....

The Rev's at it again...How
disrespectful indeed and yes the Fox doesn't know it's a head-stone but you do, must it be shown. You could have quite easily shown the fox walking through the Cemetery without trying to be clever. What must the family of the two deceased think, are you sure you're a Reverend of the Church...David Long?

Excuses excuses, the Rev should apologies on this site.

Marking it's territory and urinating is exactly the same thing, so it's still URINATING.

that is sick rev david long

responsible your not to say the least

It's nature - even the Reverend can see that! Far worse things happen in graveyards. But I do agree the lettering should have been blurred for privacy.

In the twenty first century, natural, indeed necessary, functions
by human or beast, are not considered disgusting by intelligent people, no matter where they are performed.

that is so sick rev david long

it's not about the fox, it's about the photograph, think about it alan.

ha john would the rev long still have taken the photo if the fox had taken a shine to his leg.

ONe must ask the Rev, would you have published this if it had been the headstone of one of your family?
If yes your probably not that bad,if no,?

The photo's OK, done well to capture it in the act ,the headstone name could have been painted out black neatly in Windows ,Accessories,Paint,if need be very handy if you put a photo on which as a car reg number in it.

disgusting photo for a rev .and he should apologies for that photo DISGUSTING

What is wrong with you lot? It's a photo, 'nature', get over it.

Point the finger at me as I chose the photo from a few submissions and I chose to publish it.

Urinating foxes, sleeping tramps in bus stops, sinking barges all part of daily life in Wigan

the camera is a powerful thing and should not be misused for petty gratification

With all these silly complaints I can the photo that I sent into Photo of the Day of a lad pinching graveside flowers not be chosen for publication now.

There is nothing wrong with that picture at all!

And the worms will eat up ducks.Or is it the ducks will eat worms.?

A really unusual shot Rev. What time of day did you take this? I realise we have a lot of urban foxes now but they're usually quite shy ...

Rev. Long. You have no reason whatsoever to be apologetic for this photograph, this, I am willing to bet will be the only photo of a fox doing what it is seen to be doing, ever. This is absolutely unique, one of a kind, never to be repeated. You took the shot, I believe that you thought, what a great shot. Brian chose this as the "Photo of the Day" he is possibly wrong, I think it is the "Photo of the Millenium".. No apologies required on your part.

This shot was taken shortly after 1pm, on December 28th. We've know there are foxes in the cemetery from odd sightings in and around it over the years - and from hearing the noises of their mating in early winter.
The last clear sighting we had was on Christmas Eve 2009, when looking from the church shortly before Midnight Mass. Then, in late November, at soon after 9am, we saw one fox one day, and then it was joined by another the next day. They appeared to be a young couple, perhaps just pairing up, by the way they played around. When the snow was on the ground the tracks made it clear that there were more than a couple of them about - and then this one appeared. As related in my last Comment on Sunday's sparrow hawk pic, a further fox appeared last Friday, soon after 8am... a bit too early for decent pics.
It's very strange that we should be seeing so many at such times of the day, given their previous shyness - but then a moorhen suddenly took up residence in our garden in December, just as the snows began. Perhaps the hard winter is bringing on such unusual behaviour.
Thanks for the comments everyone, by the way.... It takes all sorts....

Well said Brian it’s a good interesting natural photo and rev there nothing disrespectful about it. This is the type of photo that photographers are on the lookout for, if the rev had taken the fox just walking through the cemetery it wouldn’t have raised so many comments, but snapping it marking its territory well that’s something else.

i hope it brings the family good fortune thats all i have to say

The Rev's the first person to slag someone's photo or comments off. Now the boots on the other foot, not very nice is it Rev.

I think it is spectacularly tasteless!

well said bob

I do not think Rev long set out to cause any disrespect to any one.Nature is nature.if any thing you are all being disrespectful to him.so stop moaning and move on.

Rev Long seems to take much pleasure to insult and try to make people look foolish on Wigan World..."what goes round comes round"...hey Rev.

A grave error on the part of rev if you will excuse the pun !

ITS NATURE GUYS & GALS - get over it...... Apologies - should be spelled APOLOGISE - THICKO'S

The New Oxford English Dictionary. 'with apologies to.'

Spot on David...apologies
and...apologize...and apologise.
The correct one is apologies and should be spelled that way.

Sorry: pooper skooper..with a name like that no wonder you're wrong.

Blimey thank God it was only taking a wee !All this fuss ! Its a wonderful pic, difficult to get a shot of a fox as they are so shy so well done. I don't think theres a need to apologise , its nature, its not a dog on a lead its a wild animal.

it's time the people on here grew up, there are far worse things going on in this town than an animal going about it's natural business. It could have been a gang of your feral children wrecking the graves instead.

Well said Gem, do you all know where your teens are?. Bet the people complaining are the same people that complain about sex and violence on TV, instead of using the remote and just switching over!

can't put nowt, were there is nowt

APOLOGIES = A - POL - O GEES.
APOLOGISE = A - POL - O GISE.

Glad you have nothing better to worry about when our soldiers are coming home with limbs missing or even worse.

Nice to know where your prioritys are

David, well done on capturing the moment, interesting that there are more comments than usual. For such an old grave/death, the lettering is in good condition.

Whether it is just nature taking it's course with the fox or not, this picture is most definitely disrespectful. I have a family member recently buried in Ince Cemetery and if this would happen to be their grave, it would have shocked us. Why couldn't you have just taken a picture of the fox trotting across the cemetery rather than this low shot. I would never have published this picture.

USA

I do agree with peoples comments that there are far worse things going on in Wigan and beyond, but, that still does not make this picture any less respectful! And NO, I am not one of those who complain about sex and violence on TV. What if this grave were a newly buried soldiers grave....would that make a difference to you then? Granted, I am grieving for my recently deceased family member buried there, but, still....disrespectful picture to publish.

What is so disrespectful about this photo? The photographer didn’t ask the fox to pose for the shot, what he did was to record a fox marking its territory, something the fox would have done whether it was photographed or not. Also as I said previously a photo of a fox walking through the cemetery would not have generated so much interest.

A really lovely picture. How sad that some people forget that nature is all around us. What do you think happens when humans are not around? This photograph was probably a once in a lifetime chance to capture - animals don't pose for photographs. Disrespectful - never.

Of course, we realize nature takes it's course and when cameras are not around. Geesh, we're not idiots. The disrespect comes from publishing this. I would never have considered publishing this out of simple, honest RESPECT for others. That's all. :)

Stand aside,PC brigade marching through WW. Lets take off all pictures please Brian, text only please. We might offend someone! Jeeze!

More people disagree about this shot than agree....
proof we have more sensible and caring people for others on WW.....
Enough said...and i'm one who disagrees with this tasteless photo.

What's all the fuss about, looks like he wouldn't catch the gravestone anyway because he is too far away. I have family buried in the churchyard and wouldn't be offended in the slightest, nor iam sure would my deceased family members.

i think the rev long and brian knew exactly what they were doing getting the photo published and waited for a reaction...sick!

The small amount of comments who agree with this photo taken by the Rev, are almost certaintly from his Church.

Had to pop back and have a look at the whingers posts, I am most certainly not from his church , nor do I know who the gent is who took the pic. Nor do I care . Its nature, its posted on here, no apology heading your way, so get over it and move on. I'm sure the photographer will give the naughty fox a stern look on your behalf next time he sees it. Just to make you feel better. Nice pic of a swan on today, its jaywalking....go moan at it :)

IT'S A WONDER ANYONE ATTENDS HIS CHURCH, WHILE HE'S AT THE HELM.

Okay, which one of you can actually see it taking a leak?..... can you absolutely, gurantee that its peeing??............. erm, no you cant.

SOME PEOPLE NEED TO GET OUT MORE.

GEES!!

what do you think its doing the okie kokie puddin geeeeeeees!!

I can't gurantee, but I can guarantee that its leg is cocked which is a massive clue.

Are you lot still at it ? As bad as "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells " !!

Marking it's territory and as you say "peeing" is exactly the same.... Foxy, you need to watch some wild life programmes.

Have been checking the comments about this photo on a daily basis. I find nothing wrong with the picture. I do think Rev Long deserves a prize....this photo must have generated the most number of comments ever on Photo-A-day.
Keep it up Rev.

Pat Bradshaw can't find nothing wrong with the photo.....so that's alright is it....

bob if pat says its ok then its ok if she says its monday its monday

nothing wrong with the pic , seen far worse .what is there to be disgusted with .

Nutcase

Bet the Rev's sermons don't get even half as much interest?

Photographers have been recording images with their cameras for over 170 years and that is what the reverend Long has done here. Photo-a-day gives visitors an insight to many aspects of Wigan and the surrounding areas. This particular photo shows a fox doing marking its territory, all the revered has done is record that moment which would have happened whether it was photographed or not. Nothing wrong with the photo and well done Brian for publishing it, also, I don’t know reverend Long and I don’t go to his church.

Why is it that some of the comments are just insults? If you can’t be constructive then don’t comment.

" Comment by John on 29th January 2011 at 11:06
Marking it's territory and as you say "peeing" is exactly the same.... Foxy, you need to watch some wild life programmes."

I dont have time to watch wild life programmes, believe or not but some of us actually have a life beyond the t.v. in fact I bet you are one!!! ........ no not the one you're thinking of.

Some of you don't seem to get what we are trying to convey! It is not that this is the most important thing in the world. Certainly not. It is not that we do not realize animals may do this. But, it is a lack of respect/tastless to publish this is what I am saying. I have a baby daughter buried and would certainly not like to see her grave being peed on, if this picture had happened to be her grave, is all I am saying. A lot of you seem to be very cold hearted about this actually! That makes me sad. And yes, I have a life. A very full, nice and happy life. Outside of the U.K. Have a wonderful day everyone. :)

Your right Elaine pure and simple lack of respect and no consideration for the feelings of others some very cold hearted people out there and people just missing the whole point of this disrespectful photo NO need to have published it Full stop

Saw someone letting their dog do the very same thing on the very same pot this afternoon

I wonder what Immanuel Kant would have thought?

Thank you, Glenys.