Letters to the Editor

My family sent me a copy a couple of years ago, and each time I pick it up I find something new.

What a delightful picture on pages 120/121 of all the children with their milk. I wonder how many of us have looked at that picture and not realised that not one child is drinking from the bottle, they are all using straws.

I remember as a child going to the public wash house with my mother, and the formidable ladies who were regulars - the steam and smell of bleach and 'dolly blue'. I was still a schoolgirl when the 'Mechanics' went up in 1962, but I remember it well.

As we migrated to South Australia in 1974, the news and views in this book are just marvellous, and I hope he continues with his wonderful work. Thanks again

Jean Doyle

SIR - As the father of a serving officer in the forces, I have never been against him serving the country in whatever way has been asked of him.

However, I am opposed to the war with Iraq, for a variety of reasons, but mainly because this will be a war fought on behalf of two idiots (Blair & Bush) who dream, amongst other things, of being remembered as great and decisive leaders.

I have watched with interest all those marchers whose efforts are being ignored and feel there must be some other way to make the Government take notice of our protests. Given that the Government always find a way to hit us in the pocket, with increased taxes, congestion charges and levies, I feel we should hit back at them in the same way. In other words fight fire with fire, cut off some of their money.

I ask all that read the Keighley News to stop doing the Lottery as another way of showing your contempt for this war.

The chances of you winning are so small, you won't feel a thing, but you will have lodged your vote of contempt for the Government and denied them money which will eventually end up in their war fund. No-one likes to be hit in the pocket do they? Especially when it's millions of pounds per week.

Before anyone suggests that we would be hitting the pockets of charity, think about it.

If you help to stop the war then you have supported the greatest act of charity.

That is to save and preserve life, whether it be that of a member of your family or that of some innocent young child who just happens to live in Iraq.

Roy Spink

Address supplied

SIR - Many people, including Alec Aspinall in your letters column last week, consider opposition to an attack on Iraq by the USA and Britain to be 'appeasement'.

They go on to compare the current situation with that in the 1930s when Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler was not opposed by the other European powers when it re-occupied the Rhineland, annexed Austria and invaded the Sudetenland part of Czechoslovakia.

Unlike Nazi Germany Saddam Hussein hasn't attacked anywhere outside his country since the invasion of Kuwait 12 years ago. Before that his war on Iran was supported by the USA, who at that time regarded Iran as the enemy and Iraq as a friend, which prevented them from opposing his oppression of his own people including an attack with chemical weapons on the Kurds.

Now the task of the UN inspectors is to find out whether Iraq has weapons of mass destruction so that it can be disarmed, by force if necessary. In a situation where nobody outside Iraq is immediately threatened, we are not able to 'appease' Saddam or his country.

Any right-minded person would wish to see Saddam Hussein deposed and prevented from torturing and killing his own people. However, this is illegal under international law.

If we go ahead illegally without the sanction of the United Nations and the attack is successful, who are we going to attack next? Zimbabwe to get rid of the tyrant Mugabe, Pakistan and India because they threaten to use nuclear weapons, Israel because of its illegal occupation of Palestine and killing of Palestinian children?

Many people are mystified as to why Tony Blair supports George Bush to such an extent. Mr Blair promised us evidence of specific Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and connections with Al Qaeda, but has not been able to produce it.

Bush and his supporters in the USA clearly have an interest in securing oil supplies in the Middle East, but that is not a legal basis for war.

If war happens in Iraq appalling suffering and death will once again be visited on unarmed men, women and children. To do our utmost to prevent that happening is not appeasement.

If appeasement is happening at all, it is in Tony Blair's willingness to follow wherever George Bush leads him in a quest for the USA to extend its control of world resources.

PATRICK CONNOLLY

Devonshire Street West,

SIR - I was beginning to believe Keighley was covered in sand by the amount of people who wished to bury their heads into it.

But thanks to the pen of Alec Aspinall in last week's KN he reminded us all of the ghastly mistakes we made before the second great war and, if we don't watch out, are starting to happen again.

We have had one warning on September 11, when so many lost their lives and they weren't at war. We never know where these vile men will strike again and in what manner, so we must put a stop to it.

In both cases we've had League of Nations and United Nations, who have failed in their duty.

In the last conflict with Iraq, when the allies got to the gates of Baghdad the United Nations dropped the drawbridge and said 'no further'. We should have gone in and dragged Saddam and his killers out to a war crime court.

If war comes, and I hope and pray it never comes to that, my deepest dread is who will drop the drawbridge again and cause all this to happen again. We have been warned.

STAN MOULES

Exley Head, Keighley.

SIR - In reply to Mr Aspinall's letter of last week in which he advocates a rush to war led by 'Cowboy Bush and Bomber Blair,' who cannot in all honesty call it a war, massacre is a better word.

With the awesome weapons of mass destruction that the mighty US possess, and they have not ruled out the use of nuclear weapons, the Iraqi people could not survive the carnage for long.

I still recall the terrible sight from the past Gulf conflict of five hundred little children's bodies being brought out of the rubble that was once an air shelter until a smart bomb from a US plane destroyed it. How Mr Aspinall is prepared for this to happen beggars belief.

America has bombed no fewer than 41 countries since 1945. How many has Iraq? Let's not forget Vietnam and the acts against humanity committed by the US.

Like Mr Aspinall, Saddam cannot be condoned, but neither can the US.

Mr Aspinall reminded us he served in the Royal Navy during the 1939-45 war, so he will no doubt remember the song that was popular at that time. It mentions 'blue birds, white cliffs and peace ever after.'

We have still got the blue birds and the cliffs but we have never had the 'Peace.' The young lads of this country have had to fight as conscripts, not as well payed professional soldiers, in many conflicts.

Malaya, Korea, Kenya, Aden, Suez, Ireland to mention but a few, and as a parent I say enough is enough.

The US is determined to go to war regardless of public opinion or the opinion of the religious dignitaries. They are not going to help the Iraqi people, they have been starving and bombing them for the past twelve years.

They are going in in the name of big business and Bomber Blair and the 'second chamber' of the Conservative party, that's all that new Labour is, will follow like jackals to pick the carcass after US big business has finished. And to think I used to vote for them.

So Mr Aspinall, next time you polish your medals spare a thought for the innocent women and children who could be maimed and killed when the bombing starts.

B MADDOCKS

Grafton Road, Keighley

SIR - Re Cllr Thompson's letter KN Feb 21, 2003 'Nothing Claimed'. As a member of the Town Council who had to fight an election for his seat 'I was fair affronted' by Cllr Thompson's letter singing the praises of her two favourite Town councillors who, yes, have done a great deal of work free for the new council (with lots of thanks I seem to recall) but so have lots of others, myself included.

To read Cllr Thompson's letter you would think that these two Cllrs were the only champions of Keighley, far from it! There are 30 Town councillors. Many of them have put in hundreds of hours of time and expense and claimed 'nothing.'

CLLR R L E Horrell

Riddlesden and Stockbridge

Ward

Occupation Lane, Keighley

SIR - I was appalled to read that Cllr Kathrine Roberts and Cllr Robert Payne were reprimanded because of a letter they had typed out for them on behalf of a charity fundraising event.

Cllr Roberts is a valued and trusted friend who works tirelessly for everyone in the Bracken Bank and Ingrow area.

Cllr Roberts spends a lot of her time helping out people less fortunate than herself, and also works doing valuable charity work in the community.

Cllr Roberts and Cllr Payne were arranging a charity night at Keighley's Cellar project. It is just a shame that Cllr Hudson has nothing better to do than try to catch his fellow councillors in the act of helping out in the community.

He would be advised to take a leaf out of Cllr Roberts' book and actually get out and help his constituents and community as he was voted to do.

TRACY COLHOUN

Elmwood Drive,

Keighley

SIR - I was annoyed to read your article concerning Cllr Kathrine Roberts and Cllr Robert Payne.

Who does Cllr Hudson think he is, calling his fellow councillors? By the sounds of it they were both doing their bit for charity.

Has Cllr Hudson nothing better to do with his time than complain about valuable charity work his other councillors are doing?

JOYCE CUTHILL

Elmwood Drive,

Keighley

SIR - Keighley Town Council has had eighteen 'confidential' meetings, where the press and public were refused entry.

These secret meetings were supposed to have been designed to prevent the personal details of staff employed by the council from being made pubic.

By making a statement to the Keighley News, 21/2/03, regarding the remuneration of the former Acting Town Clerk, has Cllr Lajszczuk, Deputy to the Keighley Mayor, now breached the Admission to Meetings Act 1960?

And if so will he report himself to the Mayor and to the appropriate legal authority for summary examination of any violation?

David Samuels

Ex Keighley Town Cllr

Oxenhope

SIR - Re the Dial-a-Ride transport service for the community and disabled people.

Would it not be beneficial to Keighley if the £30,000 needed to keep it running were to be provided by supermarkets?

They get the most out of this service, which is used by the less fortunate to do their shopping. I speak from wide experience as a frequent user of this wonderful service.

CHRISTINE CAUTHERY

Address supplied

Sir - The Meningitis Trust would like to take this opportunity to thank toddlers in the North East for helping to raise £320,000 towards the fight against meningitis.

Thousands of under 5's throughout the region joined in our special Toddle Waddle sponsored walk and helped to make this the biggest fundraising event in the Trust's sixteen-year history.

We must also thank Tesco Toddler Club and its members for giving us great support.

The money raised will go towards fighting meningitis, which still kills more under 5's than any other infectious disease, and will help fund research into life-saving vaccines, raise awareness of the symptoms and provide support to the thousands of families affected every year.

Your readers can see photographs and find out about this year's event at www.toddlewaddle.org. It is only with the continued support of the public that we will remove the threat of meningitis in the UK.

Rachel Armitage

North East Regional

Development Officer

Meningitis Trust