SIR – I am currently involved in a group putting together the Dragon Boat Racing Festival on May 9.

The festival is in aid the the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and will take place on the River Aire at Roberts Park, adjacent to Saltaire.

My purpose in writing is to express my sincere thanks to a whole series of council officers who put their collective shoulders behind this ambitious venture and have done their best to make this a runner. So many officers – and Regeneration in Jacob’s Well has been at the forefront in this – have gone the extra mile in their own time.

We live in times that are not good for local councils. Most – especially the big Metropolitans – have suffered significant funding cuts. It would have been very easy for council employees to have shrugged off requests for help and walked away. In fact, the opposite has been true and in difficult times we organisers have been met with so many positive responses.

I wish to thank officers for their support, and commend them for maintaining their morale. They are very welcome in Roberts Park on May 9 – as are all T&A readers.

John Cole, Lord Mayor’s Appeal Committee, Oakroyd Terrace, Baildon