Letters to the Editor

In 1940, as a 12-year-old girl, I arrived one dark October evening with about 200 other girls, to be billeted around the town, where we stayed for three years.

The young couple who took me in treated me like their own and I loved them and kept in touch with them until they died. I am sure it was the same for many of us evacuees.

The children of Keighley at the time also accepted us and we fraternised happily with them too -- mostly the lads I must admit!

Yorkshire, we discovered, is a beautiful county and I still feel at home when I visit. I made a lot of friends, some of whom I have still, and I hope anyone who remembers us "City Girls" will accept my thanks for making my evacuation from London such a rewarding experience.

EILEEN McMORRAN (nee Cripps)

Burgess Hill, West Sussex

SIR - With respect to our two Bus Critics, I actually applaud Mr Fearnley of K&D Travel for his purchase of the new buses. They are fine looking vehicles and stand up well against the competition.

I ask you, do you think Mr Fearnley took his decision lightly? Be aware that a lot of time, effort and money goes into market research (speaking to operators and passengers alike) and then into the design of a vehicle before it is allowed on to the road. As with cars, bus makers have to follow the competition and try to stay ahead of the pack.

Otherwise, their business will die, just like Rover cars, who were ridiculed for their designs.

When you consider a bus is just a rectangular tube, it is very hard indeed to do something with it to make it more appealing. But over the years all bus (and train/plane) makers have altered the exterior looks, livery and furnishings including smoked glass and leather seats, like they were in the "Good Old Days", to make buses more appealing for us to travel on.

If you recall from past editions of the Keighley News, a lot of effort is being put into rejuvenating the town and improving its image. Surely good looking PSV vehicles complement this effort.

Or would you prefer to travel on the old "A" registered double deckers with high platforms and steps that still run on the roads and are inaccessible to the disabled sector of our community?

As for the yobs! They'll do whatever they do no matter how the buses are upholstered. But this is a matter of parental control and self discipline, which is another subject. As for the jerky ride, could the state of our roads, speed bumps and congestion be a contributory factor?

Roy Spink

Goose Cote Lane

Oakworth

SIR - I was surprised to see two very negative letters on the new 662 Bradford Keighley bus service.

All the people I know are delighted with these luxury buses which are only what the people of Keighley deserve. As for Mr Rodgers, most young folks of Keighley are not the hooligans he implies and they will appreciate and value the nice new leather seats.

There will be a few vandals of course, but on similar buses in Harrogate the hooligans have quickly found just how effective the CCTV system is and they have had to pay for the damage they have caused and they have been fine.

The same will happen here.

It is true that some people might prefer basic buses and cheaper fares, but this service is about attracting motorists onto buses and this will only happen if the buses are nicer than the cars, which now they are by a very big margin.

I would strongly recommend people to try this service. Parking is so easy when you can leave it to the bus company!

Ray Wilkes

Tower Road, Shipley

SIR - Mary Weatherall, in her "Christian Viewpoint" last Friday, may well succeed in creating friction amongst her Christian brethren with her ill-chosen remarks. However, they will no doubt forgive her.

Nevertheless, I am angry and sad that her biased views should be expressed at a time when we are commemorating VE Day and I write this letter on behalf of all those who died in the second world war and whose voices have been silenced. I think of my own comrades who died alongside me fighting the monstrous evil which threatened our world, an evil which was anti-Christ, an evil which was the Devil incarnate.

To describe them, as Mary Weatherall does, as "enemies of the Cross" is nothing short of monstrous.

I have been a Christian all my long life and I am left wondering if I follow the same Lord as Mary Weatherall does.

ALEC ASPINALL

Westview Way,

Woodville Road, Keighley

SIR - After the most uninteresting general election campaign I can ever recall we are suddenly faced with potentially the most damaging post election period for years.

For we humble voters, a limp government and a limp opposition does not augur well for the future governance of the country, whatever one's personal political views might be.

Blair wins a historic consecutive third term for (new) Labour and immediately finds a significant rump of left wing (old) Labour back benchers baying for his early removal.

Howard signals his intention to depart sooner rather than later, having failed to move the Conservatives forward in any meaningful way, and is beseeched to stay on by an opposition party totally taken aback by his decision.

The prospect now is of both major parties becoming embroiled in bouts of vicious in-fighting for months if not years ahead whilst future leadership issues are resolved.

Is one permitted to ask who, in the meantime, will be trying to effectively govern the nation and who will be offering effective opposition to potentially unpopular policies that the new government might seek to impose?

The only consolation for voters in Keighley is that they have chosen to elect a member who, on her past record, is more likely to be concerned with the affairs of her constituents rather than the egos of her Westminster peers.

M S BOOTHROYD

Broadlands, Shann Park,

Keighley

Sir - As the election agent for the British national party's campaign during the May 5th elections, I wish to thank all those who sacrificed their own time to help us throughout this busy period.

Scores of men and women gave up many hours to help change life in Keighley to enable a better more positive future for everyone; I must inform you that you have achieved this.

The BNP in their first general election massed a staggering 9.2 per cent of the vote, against a five per cent target some of us had earlier predicted we would achieve, this in turn virtually doubling our own target we aimed for.

Well done all members supporters and activists you are a credit to the new face in honest politics, your groundwork has enabled a stronger voice for our party.

Finally a big thank you to all those voters who decided that ticking the BNP box was the way forward for the future of this district, Mr Griffin's view is that you are real heroes of this election.

Cllr Chris Kirby,

Shann Lane, Keighley

SIR - I would like to thank the thousands of people in Keighley who supported my campaign at this General Election by voting for me last Thursday.

It was a great pleasure to meet many thousands of people across the constituency and I have been especially touched by the messages of support I have received since the result was announced early on Friday.

Clearly we were disappointed not to win. However, I congratulate Ann Cryer on her victory. If she delivers on the things that really matter to the people of our constituency then she will have my support.

It is clear that the gains that the Conservative Party has made across the country will allow us to be a more effective opposition in this Parliament. Keighley Conservatives will carry on working hard to help the people of our area.

Karl Poulsen

SIR - May I take this opportunity through your pages to thank the five and a half thousand voters who voted for the Lib Dems and myself.

I was delighted that our progressive and radical message of a citizens' pension, of free personal care for the elderly and the abolition of council tax and university fees was so warmly received. We were the only major party to increase our share of the vote and I believe that our positive and non-sectarian attitude was the reason. I would urge the other two main parties to stop squabbling and unite with us to fight Keighley's corner and to help accentuate the positive. We have shown that messages of hate have no home here in Keighley.Finally, it was an honour and a privilege to fight the contest. My thanks to all those, young and old, Asian and white, male and female, who helped.

Cllr Nader Fekri

SIr - I would like to thank all those people who have supported me and given their confidence in me. It is a great privilege to represent the people of Keighley and I will continue to work to improve the lives of everyone.

My re-election does represent a victory for hope over hate. However, this is the start of a process and not the end.

Ann Cryer MP

SIR - I noticed with alarm the comments of Ann Cryer after her re-election, that the BNP were responsible for Keighley's problems -- if she believes that then we have no hope.

The problems we have are caused entirely by her and people like her who have continually ignored the concerns of the people of Keighley.

In case this is misconstrued as my support for the BNP, I voted Labour, albeit with a peg on my nose. I think it's head out of sand time.

Denis Briggs

Bankfield Rd, Keighley

SIR - Has Bradford Met got a hidden agenda for Keighley Library?

It seems to be deliberately letting this fine building fall into disrepair and Andrew Carnegie would surely turn in his grave if he could see it now, as it is a disgrace both inside and out. The windows alone are filthy, and whilst there have been many improvements to the town in recent years, the library has been neglected. What was once an attractive building with a service second to none, is now a shadow of its former self. Even Librarians are no longer accorded this dignified name, but have been demoted, in my opinion, by now being known as Information Officers, a name which could apply to any number of jobs.

What is wrong with the name 'Librarian'? It seems we must have change for the sake of it.Librarians study long and hard to obtain their qualifications, so surely earn the right to be called by the correct terms and also deserve to work in a pleasant environment.

MRS E CARDWELL

Bobbin Mill Court, Steeton

SiR - Many years ago I met a couple of chaps whilst doing National Service and we became very, very good friends.

We were all mechanics in the REME and did all of our service in Germany from 1960 to 1963, with 1 (BR) CORPS WKSPS REME, Belefield, Germany. My name is Jim Lloyd and I hail from the Liverpool area. The other two guys are Bill Nelson, who lives in the Bristol area and Gordon Richardson who at that time lived in the Keighley area.

Bill and I are still in touch and only this past weekend Bill and his wife stayed here with me in Liverpool. The one question we keep asking ourselves is where is Gordon?

Bill and I would dearly love to make contact with Gordon. We would dearly like to know what happened to him. If anyone can help they could call me on 0151 474 2442, or write to me at 127, Chatsworth Avenue, Orelly Park, Liverpool L93AZ

James Lloyd

SIR -Through your paper, we would like to share details of the Carer's Small Grant, available through Bradford District Carers' Joint Strategy Team, which helps carers promote their own health and well-being.

A Carers Small Grant, to a maximum of £200, can be used by a carer to pay for membership of a gym or health club, help towards learning a new skill or hobby, day trips or a short break.

The closing date for applications is 27 May 2005, with application forms available from Carers' Support Resource, Leeds Road Hospital, Maudesley Street, Bradford, BD3 9LH, or telephone 01274 366332 . The Carers Resource, with offices in Skipton and Harrogate, specialises in helping carers to care for themselvesproviding information, advice and support - for further details, contact us on 01756 700888.

Anne Smyth

Director