Letters to the Editor

I am, however, somewhat disturbed by your reporter's sexism!

Master Liam and I are the only two people on the photograph whose ages are mentioned whereas the five young ladies, also in the photograph, are only mentioned by name.

I don't want to make a big issue of this but I feel that the disclosure of both Liam's and my age did not particularly enhance the photograph.

No doubt, you will issue your usual severe reprimand to this 'cub' reporter or next time he'll be disclosing how many children I have, my wife's name and even my mistress's name.

DERRICK H GREEN

Upper School Street,

Steeton.

SIR - I am writing to express my revulsion as to what has happened to Mrs Sutton again. I could not believe it when she told me what had happened to Jane's car.

When will the Police, council and social services listen to what the people at the sharp end of crime tell them. Mrs Sutton has been telling these people for years what will happen but they seem to close their ears.

The Police are always asking for co-operation from the public to help them do their jobs, but what do the public get in return, it seems nothing.

I know they will say they are short staffed, but what happens to the crime, it escalates and whilst they are doing nothing to combat the crime we have more crime rearing its ugly head.

How are decent people expected to live in an area where known crime is in their face on a day to day basis. We all know who these people are but no one else will say anything.

I am fed up with knowing what is going on and knowing that others know and are doing nothing about it because they say they are afraid of what these lawless people might do to them.

Don't they realise that they are condoning what is happening to defenceless people by staying quiet and not saying what they know?

We would all like to live in a world where there is no crime and no bad people, but unfortunately we do not and the only way we can do something about it is to voice our concerns to the powers that be and insist that something is done to alter the situation.

Mrs Sutton cares for two mentally and physically disabled adults who do not harm anyone at all, and the vandalism directed at Mrs Sutton's property is because of these two individuals.

I cannot understand why this can be so, both Jane and Jill are pleasant to be around. Fortunately they do not understand what is going on, but that is not the point.

Why should they be subjected to the mindless vandalism that is happening to their lives?

The car that was fired once again is a motability car for Jane so that Mrs Sutton can take them out as both are unable to travel by public transport.

When the last incident happened the police gave Mrs Sutton a panic attack alarm button and two weeks ago it was decided by someone that she is no longer at risk and that there are other people more at risk than her.

They did provide her with security cameras, but on the night in question the security light did not come and what a surprise the car was fired for the second time.

How long do these three people have to live from day to day, not knowing what is to happen next?

I have tried my best to help Mrs Sutton over the past few years and I think now is the time for those who can do more than I can to do something about the way in which people are expected to live.

We are living in the 21st century, not in the days of feudal lords. Come on people, stand up and be counted, you can make a difference.

A PAGE

Coronation Way, Keighley.

SIR - Whatever has the BBC done to deserve such a vitriolic attack from Charles Meacher?

The Leeds news is delivered with appropriate sobriety, as is the weather forecast, and I fail to see how the exchange of light hearted banter which follows detracts from the foregoing professionalism.

So much sleeze and obscenity is now spewed out of our television screens there is ample scope for Mr Meacher to expend his energies in complaint.

His referred 'comedy act' is inoffensive to any age group, a variety in today's lavatorial presentations and foul mouthed so called 'comedians'.

Mr Meacher's letter is so farcical that I wonder is it a humbug seeking a good chew?

MURIEL CROOK

Ryecroft, Harden.

SIR - With all the doom and gloom we see on TV and read in the papers, how anyone could complain about our local Paul Hudson and the news reader having a bit of light hearted fun is beyond belief.

Keep up the bit of harmless fun that most of us enjoy - what a pity their sense of humour isn't more widespread.

JOAN ROGERSON

Woodlands Rise, Haworth.

SIR - I would like to take issue with the writer of last week's 'letter of the week'.

National news programmes are full of doom and gloom, the local ones are more personal to us in the area even though they are often full of local doom and gloom.

Not to mention weather forecasts, usually full of the same. So we are always happy to see the rapport between Paul Hudson and Peter Levy, it livens the programme up and always raises a laugh.

If your reader wishes for a more serious broadcast may I suggest he tunes in to BBC 24 or listens to the news on the radio. He doesn't have to watch the Peter and Paul show or even the Christa, Harry and Paul show.

They are the reason we actually watch every day, twice. We exercised our right to press another button. I think your reader's answer is the 'off' switch at the appropriate time.

CAROLE SMITHIES.

Thornhill Rd, Steeton

SIR - May I answer three letters in your paper, which sought to discredit not only myself but also my late husband Bob Cryer MP.

The first two smears had a very strong smell of Conservative Central Office about them, mirroring the line of Tories in Parliament and shadow ministers.

My support for Stephen Byers was for a hard working, capable Minister whose only mistake was his misplaced loyalty to a member of staff.

The Tories in Government had made such a dog's dinner of the ludicrously expensive privatisation of our nationally owned rail network that the Transport Secretary was left with few other options but to take the path he followed.

Can I make it as clear as possible to my constituents: No deal was done linking this support with a re-introduction of the Bill to outlaw hunting with dogs.

I am not in the business of such deals, nor have I ever before been described as a New Labour storm trooper.

The third letter leaves me hurt and perplexed that anyone, no matter how devastated he was at the loss of a much loved daughter 24 years ago, should choose this moment to attempt to discredit Bob Cryer, an MP who diligently replied to every letter ever received from constituents.

It would have been better by far if your correspondent had assumed the letter had gone astray and written again 24 years ago, than seek to score political points against him eight years after he also was killed.

ANN CRYER

MP for Keighley & Ilkley.

SIR - Charities Unlimited is able to offer, one only, free of charge, a Bon Tempi electric organ.

The anonymous donor has stipulated that the organ can only be given to a registered charity.

Applicants should telephone me, David Samuels, on 01535 643393 or write to 32/34 Station Road, Oxenhope BD22 9JJ.

DAVID SAMUELS

Charities Unlimited.

SIR - I am seeking contact with families or friends of 1/5 West Yorkshire Regiment accident victims in Iceland in the Second World War.

On 13 February 1942, eighteen young Yorkshire men of 'C' Company, 1st/5th Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales's Own) were lost in an assault boat training exercise in Iceland.

This February marked the 60th anniversary of this tragic loss, which has not been given appropriate attention.

The bodies of the lost soldiers were never found, but their names appear on the Brookwood Memorial in Surrey, together with others whom the fortune of war denied a known and honoured grave.

I am a writer of history and seek contact with family members of the following soldiers, or anyone else who may have information relating to the accident, the victims or their families.

They are Alfred Baines, Private, 4539224; Arthur Charles Edgar Baldry, Lance Corporal, 5946650, aged 33; William Henry Ballantyne, Private, 4545836, aged 30; Sydney Bannister, Private, 4530416, aged 39; Harry Casey, Private, 4531153, aged 36; George Dunning, Private, 4541078, aged 24; George Evans, Private, 4539202, aged 27; Ronald William Graham, Lance Corporal, 4539014, aged 22; Richard Hebbron, Private, 4537212, aged 23; Henry Hopkins, Private, 3715799, aged 27; Arthur Macdonald, Private, 4544288, aged 28; Arthur Mulholland, Lance Corporal, 4532253, aged 33; Leslie Riley, Sergeant, 4537558, age 23; John Herbert Smith, Private, 4539548, aged 23; Walter Sparling, Private, 4537057, aged 24; Kenneth Topping, Lance Corporal, 4538161, aged 22; Herbert Wannop, Private, 3460537, aged 23; Walter Lewis Wise, Private, 4543255, age 25.

Fridthor Eydal

P.O. Box 21

235 Keflavik Airport

Iceland

SIR - A local newspaper has recently presented a headlined report, 'Worldwide support for cultural effort', 18/3/03.

The implications of the report suggest an overwhelming majority of ratepayers support the idea.

That is rubbish! How many of the people in the Worth and Aire districts, in excess of 120,000, a major part of Bradford, support the Bradford City effort of becoming a Cultural City?

I do not criticise the efforts, or those Bradford ratepayers who wish to drum up efforts to support war torn Bradford, but surely regional newspapers should represent all the peoples of the region.

I suggest that the majority of Aire-Worth people want nothing to do with such a cultural nonsense until all districts under Bradford's control are clean and the fear of crime becomes manageable, which it is not at present.

The rates for policing Bradford is at a historic high, yet blithely the Bradford City fathers are now committed to spending up to £1,000,000 over the next six years in promotional cost.

As a responsible newspaper, why not ask KN readers if they would wish the £1,000,000 to be spent on a public relation jamboree or on making Bradford a safer and cleaner City to be proud of, or as professionals are you and your colleagues aware of the answer?

DAVID SAMUELS

Station Road, Oxenhope.

SIR - Would it be possible for me to use your publication to try to contact ex-Cowling villagers and Holy Trinity parishioners.

Fundraising is taking place to replace the heating, and it is also hoped to decorate Holy Trinity Church.

Many villagers with connections to the church might be interested to learn of the various fundraising events or would like to be kept in touch.

One event already arranged is for a concert by the Steeton Male Voice Choir on April 13, 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Church. Cost per ticket is £4.

If any ex-villager or parishioner would like further information could they please contact Margaret Henley, 25 Bannister Walk, enclosing an SAE.

Tickets can also be obtained from this address, cheques to be made payable to Cowling PCC.

MARGARET HENLEY

Holy Trinity Church.

SIR - Very soon Keighley will have its own Town Council. One would hope that party politics would not be a feature of its determination, but that it will have an independent mind and soul.

One of the first items on the Keighley Town Council's agenda is the provision of new public toilets in the town centre. That the toilets were promised by the present administration, but which has so far failed to implement that promise, is par for the course.

There are other problems which will need the attention of the Town Council, but what is needed is for Keighley people to stand for the local elections. Your voice is needed, no spin or political oratory, just a plain old fashioned truth and a will to overcome the past errors of what many Keighley folk see as Bradford's mismanagement of the town.

For full details of how you can be a Keighley Town Councillor, telephone 604379 or 643393.

BRIAN HUDSON

Bronte Drive, Oakworth