Letters to the Editor

Today I received one from a firm in Leeds saying I have won £50,000 if I call the phone number.

Yet, the call would cost me at least £1.50 per minute and then I would be passed around and end up paying a fortune for the phone call, only to be told that I had won nothing.

It's time these people were taken to court and made to pay the costs they are charging people for these calls to make money for themselves.

JEAN GOODCHILD

Whin Knoll Avenue,

Keighley

SIR - It is right to question who will use the proposed railway footpath from Cullingworth to Queensbury.

I am a railway history fan and devotee of this superb line and write to underline some potential problems concerning this controversial topic, which must be looked into.

Over 1,326 yards of the old track bed is in tunnels! Secondly, much of it is unseen from any road or track or lane. Thirdly, Hewenden Viaduct is no place for children.

The viaduct is a big one and I believe it will need constant manning against vandalism.

It is 126 feet high and there are some inspection shafts over 250 feet deep down the piers.

The major problem is it will be an escape route for criminals and yet another entry point for more unwanteds to encroach into an already totally spoiled and devastated Cullingworth.

Almost all of what is left of this wonderful railway is in deep cuttings and this will attract undesirables without question.

This idea is great and I'm all for it. But we must think carefully about it.

Car parking is of no consequence, the problem is possible unwanteds and vandals and spoiling people's privacy.

K ABBOTT

Parkside Terrace,

Cullingworth.

SIR - Does anyone know the whereabouts of Barry Smith. Last known address, 3 Woodhouse Walk, Keighley. Barry is approximately 57 years old and lived in America for three years in the early 60s.

He was at one time a coach driver for Andertons Tours, Keighley, after which he was a bus driver for the Keighley & District bus service.

It is very important that Barry contacts his cousin, Terrence Mitchell, on 01535 656408.

T MITCHELL

Woodside Road, Silsden.

Sir - I recently attended the Drugs Play, at Greenhead, produced in partnership with Project 6 and Keighley Healthy Living Network.

I thought that the play was very powerful.

The play brought to life what really happens. It obviously had a good effect on the people who were watching it.

The cast were excellent. Hopefully, people will take notice and realise the daily effects of drug abuse.

Cllr Andrea Walker

Keighley Town Council

Riddlesden/Stockbridge

SIR - Antony Silson states he is puzzled why Keighley people wish to talk to me about Keighley issues.

Obviously Mr Silson doesn't get out enough otherwise he would have realised that Bradford Council policies exacerbates racial problems as it milks this area of jobs, culture, pride and resources.

People realise Bradford is planning to spend millions of pounds of Keighley tax payers money on flooding its city centre and rebuilding its 30-year-old business centres, while Bradford promises that Bront Middle School would not be sold to builders is seemingly about to be broken.

My advice to Mr Silson -- stop issuing your "idiosyncrasies/prejudices" to web sites, talk with "real people, not political people", as I do on a daily basis.

David Samuels

(Guardhouse Ward

Candidate)

Station Road,

Oxenhope

SIR - My grandfather, Lewis Jackson, was born in Haworth, on April 18, 1889, and lived locally until he joined the Royal Artillery in 1905.

My mother had very fond memories of visiting the Jackson family in Haworth and frequently told me what a wonderful cook her Yorkshire Granny Mathilda was.

The 1901 census lists my grandfather, aged 12, and a wool doffer by trade. His mother is listed as head of their household -- Mathilda Jackson, aged 30, a wool twister by trade -- together with her younger son, Albert, 8, and her daughter Annie, 2.

I know what happened to my grandfather and that Annie married someone who ran a car hire firm with lots of Rolls Royces and that she died in the late l930s. I do not know what happened to Albert.

Listed with the Jackson family are George Burt, the head of their household, 38, Emily Ann Burt his wife, 32, Dorris Barker, adopted daughter, aged 8, Emily Ann Bailsford, niece, 5. Mr Burt was a wool sorter, born in London. His wife was born in Staffordshire and Dorris Barker was born in Haworth.

Mathilda Jackson's birthplace was Newcastle and Lewis, Albert and Annie were born in Haworth; Emily Ann Bailsford, Mr Burt's niece, was also born in Newcastle.

Was this a coincidence, I wonder, or were they related to Mathilda? What took her from Newcastle to Haworth? Who did she marry and what happened to him?

Having looked in the local churchyards and cemeteries, I can find no trace of any Jacksons.

I wonder whether any readers have any memories of any of the above.

DEIRDRE CONDON

Nightingale Cottage,

Hunter Street,

Nelson, Lancs BB9 5JG.

SIR - On Saturday, November 8, peace campaigners will be outside the Keighley Bus Station with leaflets and petitions from 11am- 1pm.

This week has been designated Landmine Action Week and Geoff Hoon, the Defence Minister, has announced that work on the updating of Fylingdales, for the US Star Wars plan, will begin next year.

At this time of year when those who have suffered in war are remembered, it is important to remember the on-going suffering not only of the military but also civilians and to work to prevent future wars.

The petitions will, therefore, be calling for a ban on cluster bombs and the responsibility to clear them after war has ended, and opposing the use of Fylingdales and Menwith Hill by the Americans for their Star Wars plan.

Sylvia Boyes

Wimborne Drive, Keighley

SIR - As I travel around nearby towns I am wont to visit public parks and gardens, and enjoy such places as the Manor Heath Gardens, in Halifax, with the Tropical House as an extra; the Canal Gardens and Roundhay Park, in Leeds, including another Tropical House, an extensive lake and beautiful flower beds; the Valley Gardens, at Harrogate which needs no introduction; Myrtle Park, at Bingley, with large, well-kept flower beds and great sports facilities for those so inclined; Lister Park, in Bradford, scene of a recent overhaul and now including a large water garden, a boating lake, a botanical garden, bowling greens and a well-used bandstand.

As I look through postcards of by-gone days in Keighley, I see similar facilities in Lund Park, Devonshire Park and Cliffe Castle grounds, and indeed remember much of this from my childhood in the town.

Yes, my train of thought is utterly transparent and predictable but I will go on.

All we have left in Keighley's parks are stretches of muddy grass strewn with litter and several "calling cards" left by dogs with irresponsible owners, a few trees, lots of broken tarmac and the odd swing or slide for the children.

Being realistic and learning lessons from the recent past, I suspect that any attempt at transformation within any of Keighley's parklands will be met with derision, vandalism and ruination, but perhaps such a scheme should be considered -- after all, Keighley is being promoted as a place worth visiting, but I would be ashamed to show any outsider what we have to offer in the leisure and "pleasant walks" departments.

Right, I've got all that off my chest at last. Do I expect any beneficial response, or even, Heaven help us, reaction from our Overlords at Bradford? No, not really (and that's the polite answer).

Keith Sunderland

Exley Avenue

Keighley

SIR - As the time of Remembrance approaches we would like to bring to the attention of your readers of the work of the War Research Society, The Battlefield Pilgrimage Tour Organisation for which I am the local contact.

The number and scope of the tours is always increasing. Tracing war graves and carry out additional research if required. Further information and a tour brochure will be sent on receipt of an addressed A5 envelope and a 44p stamp.

ANDREW NADEN

The War Research Society,

The Lodge,

Wensley, Leyburn DL8 4HN.