SIR - Could anyone out there tell me what we are celebrating in a week or so? Could it be ... Christ-mas?

Could it be I'm out of touch? Could it be I don't live in the real world? Has anyone out there seen any sign of this festive season? I have. I happened to stumble on one piece of evidence, one being the operative word!

You too can find it at the top of one of the elevators in Kirkgate market.

It's a pathetic little display - a dull, unlit box, containing shoddy little figures portraying the first Christmas scene.

I might add it was drastically overshadowed by a massive Santa scene with all glitter and accessories.

Could it be time to give this season a different title? Any suggestions welcomed.

S M Kelly, Thornton Road, Thornton.

SIR - I find it sad that Joan Bentley has seen fit to make cheap jibes at me (Letters, T&A December 6) when I was only too well aware of her presence at the Shipley and Baildon Police Forum meeting and my letter made no mention of citizens not being welcome. I regret her distortion of the facts.

Reports made it clear that the original decision was made by a panel of three senior officers and it seems rather nave of her to have expected the Chief Constable to over-rule that decision.

She knows that after the chairman felt obliged to leave the chamber he was unable to comment, and that likewise Mr Moore also mentioned about half a dozen times that he could make no comment as at that point the issue was sub judice.

We spent nearly an hour going round in circles on that one item to no real constructive purpose.

As a friend of former PC Rick Pentith, Joan Bentley is hardly objective in this matter.

No one would seriously wish an officer of 12 years experience with a wife and family to actually be evicted but Joan Bentley does no credit by her wild accusations not only against the police but also against the Police Complaints Authority.

G Steff, Wharncliffe Road, Shipley.

SIR - Whatever have the bus company done to the bus route that runs through Baildon via Otley Road? It is an absolute mess!

I have lost count of the times I have waited three quarters of an hour for a bus. Don't take my word for it, ask anyone waiting for a bus on the Otley Road route and you'll get the same story.

It's bad enough that the nearest school has closed and I have to bus my children to school a mile up the road, without having to wait for non-existent buses.

I don't know about First Buses, they ought to rename them Last Buses. They certainly wouldn't win first prize for service!

Mrs K Cliff, Southdown Road, Baildon.

l Brandon Jones, marketing officer with First Bradford, said: "I am disappointed to note that Mrs Cliff is not satisfied with the bus services that operate through Baildon via Otley Road.

"First Bradford operate at least four buses per hour to Baildon via Otley Road, Monday to Saturday daytime including 758 (hourly), 626 (improved frequency from 30 minutes to 20 minutes) and 673, 657, 658, 678 and 649 (see timetable for details) with 625, 657 and 659 operating evenings and Sundays.

"In addition we also operate a number of other services on Otley Road including 653 Harrogate (hourly Monday to Saturday daytime), 647 and 651 circular to Yeadon/Guiseley (hourly Monday to Saturday daytime), W5 Ilkley (hourly evenings), 652 Ilkley (hourly Sunday daytime) and 654 Knaresborough (every two hours Sunday daytime).

"Although I cannot comment on the reorganisation of the school, if Mrs Cliff would be kind enough to provide journey details, I would be pleased to address her particular bus concern in more detail. I would also like to take this opportunity to point out that bus and train times and timetables are available from Metroline (open 8am to 8pm Monday to Sunday) by contacting (0113) 2457676."

SIR - I am writing to you again regarding the closure of Thornton Baths.

I was witness on Saturday, December 9, to a group of people, ages ranging from the very young to maturish, standing in a draughty doorway in Centenary Square, stripping off to their swimming costumes and on a very cold, wet, windy day setting off with their banners held high and a smile on their faces to present the Lord Mayor with a petition.

To think a group of human beings had to resort to such extreme measures in such an unselfish way!

I think Bradford councillors should hang their heads in shame.

Surely someone somewhere in Bradford with a good heart could help. We are not asking for the moon, just a Thornton swimming pool.

Mrs Sylvia Faulkner, Cliffe Lane, Thornton.

SIR - Every year at this time, the number of cases of Meningococcal Meningitis and Septicaemia rises dramatically and sometimes the outcome is devastating.

Recently I have become increasingly concerned about the number of cases of Meningococcal Meningitis and Septicaemia reported in newspapers countrywide which have been misdiagnosed either by GPs or hospital casualty doctors.

I also believe that the general public are under the misconception that once their children receive the Meningitis C vaccine, they are protected against all forms of Bacterial Meningitis. Everyone should be aware that there is still no vaccine to protect against the most common form of Bacterial Meningitis, Meningococcal Group B.

In my opinion, it is of the utmost importance for families and health professionals to always consider Meningitis or Meningococcal Septicaemia if someone becomes ill, especially if the illness has developed rapidly. The earlier the disease is identified and treated could mean the difference between life and death.

For further information about this terrible disease or about this charity, please contact me.

Steve Dayman, Operations Officer, Spencer Dayman Meningitis Laboratories Fundraising Office, 592 Fishponds Road, Bristol, BS16 3DA (Tel 0117 902 0072).

SIR - I would be pleased to hear from any of your readers who may have any information with regards to the following.

I am seeking to trace a family that used to live in Wilsden between 1940 and 1960 - a Mr Clifford Smith, who used to be an insurance man and died around 1967.

He moved from Wilsden earlier than this and I know that he had a sister Molly who married a Frank Brooke, whose family had a garden nursery at Sandbeds, Keighley.

If any relatives are still around I would like to make contact with them, so if they could write or ring 01535-274202 I would be very pleased.

N H Barwick, 8 Kingston Close, Wilsden, Bradford BD15 0JN.