Letters to the Editor

My husband was one of them. He was a teacher in Poland. He fought during the war firstly in the army and then in the air force. He won one of the highest Polish medals.

I didn't find that medal until some 15 years after the war and when I asked him about it he said: "I didn't fight the war for medals, I fought it for my country."

There were many others with similar histories. They didn't ask for hand-outs. Their main idea was "get a job, get a job".

When we eventually opened a delicatessen I heard many horrific stories of their treatment in the camps but they all worked hard here, long hours in the mills. The object of every one of them was to buy a house and they worked all hours God sent towards that aim.

If you go round to the Polish and Ukrainian clubs you will see for yourself how they created and maintained these clubs without any outside help.

They are very proud and hardworking people who have got where they are today by their own efforts and have added much to the city of Bradford.

Mrs Edna L Pilny, Mill View, Shipley.

SIR - I read with open-mouthed amazement the imbecilic suggestion that children in Bradford schools should be allowed to speak languages other than English.

I thought that ridiculous idea had been dismissed years ago when every sane-thinking person in the country agreed that the only way for children of ethnic minorities to have any chance of gaining a stronger foothold on the employment ladder was to speak English as their first language.

If that reasoning is now thought to be wrong then we might as well all give up, turn out all the lights, and leave the country because that points the way to creating two totally different cultures going their separate ways.

If the powers-that-be have admitted defeat and thrown in the towel then the outlook for Bradford is grim indeed. What is going to happen when the children of those minority groups enter the job market with their education at least six years behind those who have spoken English all their lives?

What will happen is obvious. Generations of unemployable, frustrated youths will be created, seething with resentment and frustration and that leads to a situation everyone in Bradford knows only too well.

M Wood, Westercroft View, Northowram.

SIR - I was glad to see that there has been an outcry about the dreadful smell in Bradford on Tuesday. If I were considering opening a business in Bradford and visited the city on such a day, I would certainly opt for an alternative site.

It seems most unfair that we all have to suffer for the profits of (apparently) one company in the city. To describe this as a one-off is ridiculous. I have worked in Bradford city centre for ten years and it has always been the same.

The Council needs to sort this out once and for all.

Julia Shaw, High View Cottage, Esholt

SIR - In view of the decision not to give planning permission for the penthouse apartment block, who is ever going to invest in a city like this? The city centre is already surrounded by cheap affordable housing so why block this?

The city needs property like this and more like it. Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester have them, and all are thriving. They are places where people want to be. I need not remind you that two of them were in the finals for the European City of Culture, and people can't understand why Bradford wasn't chosen.

Get out and see what is happening in cities around the country. Let things like this happen and other investors will follow. Maybe then we may get a dome at Odsal.

Its all gone quiet with the shopping complex on Broadway. Have the investors pulled out? Decisions like this may just put the nail in the coffin.

So come on Planning Committee, get your head out of the sand and look what's going on around you before someone turns out the lights.

Philip Breen, Leafield Avenue, Eccleshill.

SIR - What a wonderful piece of writing Mike Priestley gave us older-enders in North of Watford on July 26. I thought thank goodness there are some of his age group who have the guts to put in print his opinion of Great Britain.

I am so sick of what is going on. There is no-one in government who can tackle anything. Too many from Oxford/Cambridge have been ruling this country and haven't a clue what the real world is like.

And I don't want to hear from any do-gooders. Bad people need the big stick, not counselling. Teachers need to be in charge in the classroom and the cane brought back because if discipline is not taught in the home, it ought to be in the school.

It never did my age group any harm and we went on to win the Second World War and came back to build a better future for our children - all for nothing?

I am old enough to remember the days when we weren't frightened of being mugged or burgled and the last one in always locked the front door. Not today though. It's flashing lights and alarms.

A E Bone, Pellon Terrace, Thackley

SIR - I am quite willing to "get real" with the writer responding to my last letter about hunting with hounds.

1. I am not a supporter of hunting foxes with a pack of hounds.

2. I understand why foxes must be controlled in another way.

3. I have never heard of a farmer himself being attacked by a fox. It is his lambs, chickens etc I am concerned about.

4. There is already a great deal of cruelty between wild creatures themselves to enable them to live, in most cases.

5. Three or four times I have had a magpie flying at speed chasing a much smaller bird which has crashed into my window, killing itself. The magpie always flew away, obviously not having chased the other bird for food.

6. I have read, several times, the remarks of people who consider hunting with hounds is the sport of the wealthy classics.

Is this "real" enough?

M Cook, Hall Bank Drive, Bingley.

SIR - Mr Wright is correct to argue that since the first field trails, genetically-modified (GM) crops would have cross-pollinated with other plants, hence leaving their trace in the environment (T&A, July 31).

However, I would disagree with him that "the problem of genetic manipulation is no longer an issue," because at the moment only a small amount of GM plants have been grown in the British environment, the effects of which would be diluted in time.

But if commercial growing of GM crops is allowed, then the potential damage to the environment becomes irreparable, because this would involve a much longer and intense process.

In time it would become virtually impossible to obtain GM-free food as widespread contamination would occur.

Therefore we have still an opportunity of forcing the Government to abandon its intention of allowing GM crops to be commercially produced in Britain.

I would urge all concerned to write to the Prime Minister's office, 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA.

Alec Suchi, Allerton Road, Allerton.

SIR - Like Les Brotherton I was firmly against the war in Iraq. However, his opinion that the Falklands War was entirely the fault of Margaret Thatcher and her Foreign Office somewhat puzzles me.

It couldn't have had anything to do with the fact that these tiny distant islands, inhabited by British subjects, were invaded by Argentina without warning, could it?

As for Kuwait, although they may still be waiting for democracy, it is thanks to the coalition forces (not just Britain and Mr Major) that their country is not occupied by the murderous dictator who invaded it.

If you were a Kuwaiti, which option would you prefer?

S Fleming, Ogden Lane, Denholme.

SIR - Mrs Kathleen Hudson suggested in rather disparaging terms in her letter (July 25) that Mr Mike Firth's uttterances would be more suited to after-dinner speaking.

I have no wish to enter into the debate regarding T&A coverage of police action. However, those of us who may have (dare I venture to suggest) rather more experience of public speaking than Mrs Hudson would probably relish the chance to hear her speeches, be they after-dinner or otherwise.

It is a fallacy to believe that good speeches just happen - although as one gains experience, they do come easier.

Some years ago a survey revealed that of the things people fear the most, public speaking was number one. Death came in at number seven!

John Tempest, director, The Bradford Soup Run, Barkerend Road, Bradford 1.

SIR - It's hardly surprising that Veronica Farnell's cold isn't clearing up if she's taking antibiotics (Letters, August 2). Colds are caused by viruses and antibiotics have no effect.

Perhaps if Mrs Farnell was less critical of people who happily spread bacteria and viruses around so that we can all build up a healthy immunity and stopped demanding useless pills from her doctor she would get better and, more to the point, not be a source of anti-biotic resistant bacteria and a danger to others.

David Simpson, Hirst Avenue, Heckmondwike

SIR - Bring back the lady street cleaner know as Caroline.

I have lived in Otley Road area all my life and the litter and cars being dumped and set on fire is a disgrace.

When Caroline worked in the area she got rid of all the rubbish and there weren't dumped cars in the area.

It is a disgrace that there are not enough lady street cleaners in Bradford. Please bring back Caroline.

Gaynor Hunt, Prospect Road, Bradford 3.

SIR - I write regarding the City of Bradford rose after hearing a radio appeal seeking people who possess this variety.

This rose was introduced by a former Lord Mayor of Bradford, Mrs Olivia Messer, and was welcomed by my late husband (a local historian) as a worthy rival to the City of Leeds variety!

Sadly this rose seems to be relatively unknown in our city, with local stockists apparently ignorant of its existence.

It would be interesting to know if many readers possess this colourful and fragrant rose bush and to know that Mrs Messer's work in introducing it - and also taking it to Canada, where it was well received - was worthwhile.

Marjorie L Robinson, Victoria Road, Eccleshill.