Letters to the Editor

SIR, I am sad to read about Guiseley AFC. In my younger days I played in local football teams.

When I finished playing my ambition was to see an FA Cup Final, but tickets were like gold dust every year. Then I got the chance to go to see a cup final at Wembley.

It was not a well known club like Leeds United - it was Guiseley playing a team called Gresley Rovers in the FA Vase Final. It was a good game which ended in a draw and the replay was at Sheffield United's ground.

It was my happiest day as Guiseley won it. The following year, I went to Wembley again to see the final of the FA Vase Trophy. Once again, Guiseley were playing but on that occasion, they lost.

Most of the supporters from Guiseley blamed the referee - a certain David Ellery, well known at Elland Road for giving bad decisions.

I do hope they stay to carry on playing in the Guiseley area, but wouldn't it be nice if Leeds United helped them out.

Leslie Coates (Mr)

150 Broadway,

Horsforth.

Market history

SIR, - I was very pleased to read the letter in the Wharfedale and Airedale Observer (May 9), by one of our honorary citizens, Mrs Betty Bower. I, too, was born in Otley, and my family (on the distaff side) have been in this town for almost a century.

Prior to the 1939-45 war, my mother would take me to market on Friday evenings. There were stalls, in the Market Place, on Kirkgate and even in Manor Square and they were illuminated with gas flames.

I cannot, however, remember Saturday markets until after the war. History records that the market dates from Saxon times but it really began on March 1, 1222, when King Henry III granted the first royal charter. If we lose the market, much of the character of Otley will be gone.

Too much is disappearing because the 'powers that be' in Leeds can't be bothered with the little town of Otley.

So, come on you old Otleyites and all the new residents who have chosen to live here because you enjoy the character of the town, please make your feelings felt before it's too late.

Patricia Turner

18 Manor Street,

Otley.

100 'thank yous'

Sir, - With regard to the 100th birthday of Annie Jackson.

I would like to thank my grandchildren and families for the lovely party at the convent on Tuesday, the Lord Mayor of Leeds, and my favourite doctor, Dr Thacker, for calling - he's my tonic any day.

I would also like to thank Linda and Glennis at the Royal Bingo. Those who say 'teenagers have no respect for the elderly' should pay a visit - they're a grand bunch of boys and girls.

Thanks also to my son and his two daughters, son-in-law and brother for looking after me all year. I'm off to Withensea now for another party, but will be back, eyes down.

Annie Jackson (Nan)

Yeadon.

(Full address supplied)

Generous folk

SIR, - So much for the view that people are tired of giving. Thanks to the immense generosity of people in Otley, the collection for Christian Aid week so far amounts to more than £5,000. This is a record for the town.

This grand sum was in part thanks to the kindness of people, who while shopping at Safeways last Friday and Saturday, gave a total of £710. It needs to be noted that over the last few years, there has been an increase in giving each year that is greater than the rate of inflation.

With the Gift Aid scheme, the sum of money will be worth more to Christian Aid - simple because very many people indicated on their envelope that they were tax payers and stated the sum of money given.

This represents an extra 30 per cent to the charity and does not commit the giver to future giving. There will be many throughout the world who will benefit from what has been given with such good grace by so many in this town.

Raoul Guise

37 Harecroft Road

Otley.

Two nations

SIR, - One the day we buried Britain's most famous pensioner we still find there are two nations.

In spite of the Queen Mother's overdraft she left £60 million worth of jewellery, china and painting, one nation of glittering crowns, parades, large houses, millionaires, green lawns and azure swimming pools.

A nation where the accountant's pen can avoid millions in tax for the mega rich; the other nation of sink estates and brutality, a nation where a quarter of a million 13-year-ols admit to binge drinking.

The Queen Mother loved her little drink though, brought the nation together, that did. Let's all smile at the £7 million overdraft. Perhaps we should all try for one?

F Dickinson

48a Larkfield Road,

Rawdon.

Great response

SIR, - I write to thank all for their amazing response in collecting old coins and bank notes for the National Children's Home (NCH), the well known children's charity which seeks to help children in care and need throughout the country.

There are 440 projects in the North-East region of England which we are part of. I was amazed to receive in the first week several bags of coins which, in fac,t came from 40 countries worldwide - from Austria to Zimbabwe, also banknotes from nine different countries including Thailand and the old Yugoslavia.

Thank you, keep them coming in. We are most grateful to Wharfedale Observer readers and the Otley office for offering to help us.

Roger Bareham

15 Park Mount,

Old Pool Bank,

Pool-in-Wharfedale.

Victim's thanks

SIR, - I would like to thank most sincerely all those who helped me on Wednesday, April 24, when I collapsed in Kirkgate, Otley.

I am afraid that I have no recollection of the event until being helped into an ambulance, but someone must have been there to ring for one and to supply me with tissues. I really am most grateful, and thankfully no serious damage was done.

E Jean Boyington

35 Milner Bank

Otley.

Masts unhealthy

SIR, - With regard to your article on phone masts (April 9), in my opinion these should not be erected in residential areas as per the One-2 One mast at the Wharfedale Farmers Auction Mart on Leeds Road in Otley.

These are a possible detriment to health and we should be erring on the side of extreme caution until these have been disproved.

Once again the financial gains of the few win over the dangers to health of the many.

Mark Simpson.

Otley.

Lovely day out

SIR, - Just a note to thank you for our day trip on the Green Express Railtours along the Cumbrian coast. We had a lovely day out.

Mr and Mrs Bower

25 Meagill Rise,

Otley.

Risks from masts

SIR, - Thank you for the article on mobile phone masts. I feel strongly that these masts, if needed, should be placed always in such a position as not to be at risk to people.

Built-up areas must not be used, also rural areas must be selected with care. My son lives on a hill with the next house two or three-hundred yards away, and he has unfortunately two of these 'eyesore risks'.

He is at present fighting the case as the company are now wanting to raise the masts higher. So watch out. They come in by stealth - that is how the second mast got erected.

The irony of it is, the owners of the land gave permission with no thought to position or people.

If there have to be masts they should be out on the moors, sharing with the wind farms.

Olive Carroll

50 Church Street,

Yeadon.

Party point

SIR, - So Councillor Nigel Francis thinks it disappointing that the money allocated by the city council for celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee is to be spent on a 'few street parties' instead of his radio project (Wharfedale and Airedale Observer, May 16).

I wonder if local residents attending the celebratory parties put on by Otley Action for Older People; the Friendship Club and Otley Social Club; Prince Henry Road Street Party and Linfoot Court and Adam Croft, just to mention the events that came to me for funding, think its disappointing that the money is to be spent on what it was meant for?

Wharfedale FM has already received substantial funding from both Leeds City Council and town council sources. It's time that other groups got a bite of the cherry, too.

Phil Coyne (Coun)

8 Newall Mount,

Otley.

Show thanks

SIR, - Can I through your newspaper say a big 'thank you'to all the many committee members, stewards and volunteers for all their help, before, during and after Otley Show last Saturday, without whose help the show would not be possible.

Also, my thanks to my family for their continuous support over the past five weeks.

Janet M Raw (Mrs)

Show secretary,

Wharfedale Agricultural Society,

15 Bridge Street,

Otley.