SIR - It was pleasing to read of the significant improvements in GCSE results achieved by many Bradford schools this year. The staff and students who worked together to achieve this success deserve our congratulations.

As the development of Dixons CTC has always featured prominently in the T&A, I'm sure your readers will also be pleased to learn that 2003 was a year of record results at both Advanced and GCSE levels.

At Advanced level, there was a pass rate of 98.6 per cent; over 40 per cent of all grades were either As or Bs and every student passed at least one Advanced level.

At GCSE, a staggering 95.1 per cent of students achieved the "headline figure" of at least five passes at A*-C levels; 28 per cent of all grades were either an A* or A; and no student in the year failed to gain at least three GCSE passes.

It is particularly interesting to note that, at both levels, there was no significant difference in attainment levels between boys and girls which is very different from the national picture.

I am extremely proud of these results which were achieved by young people of all academic abilities, all of whom must live within the city of Bradford. They reflect the hard work and commitment which is associated with everyone involved with Dixons CTC.

John Lewis, Principal, Dixons CTC, Ripley Street, Bradford 5.

SIR - In reply to the letter from C M Taylor of Girlington (August 27) I would like to point out a few inconsistencies. Firstly the Shipley Glen tramway has been opening for five days a week in the school holidays as it is run on a volunteer basis only, otherwise it is open only at weekends as are we.

Secondly, the rides in the pleasure grounds have a minder for each ride, unless it is the end of the day and therefore not busy enough to warrant a minder for every ride, but at no time is there only one person looking after all the rides.

The last time Mr Taylor visited Shipley Glen Pleasure Grounds was 56 years ago, and I think a five-year-old's perception of how a place seems to be would differ immensely from a 61-year-old's.

As to the "paddling pool" being dry and muddy, this is a pool fed by a natural spring, and as we have had no substantial amounts of rain for a matter of weeks I hardly think we can be held accountable for this matter.

Although we try to do the best for our customers, producing rain to feed the pool is not in our power.

Two thousand people recently signed a petition to keep Shipley Glen Pleasure Grounds open, following our threatened closure. Thankfully this is not happening, and we will open as usual next season.

Mrs D Breeze, Shipley Glen Pleasure Grounds, Prod Lane, Baildon.

SIR - I was saddened to hear of the closure of Chadwicks. It holds a lot of memories for me.

My father, Herbert C Heywood, worked there in the workshop from just before the Second World War till the late 1960s. He had worked in leather all his life.

The biggest jobs he did was making cash bags for the old Bradford Tramways. They were not stitched but had dozens of rivets in them. He also had a contract for Blackpool Trams. (Little difference to Bradford's apart from pocket positions).

The other major orders were making suitcases. These were all made by hand, no machinery involved.

He could make a suitcase for Chadwicks' showroom and one for Brown Muffs, same size, same locks, the only difference was the colour of the stitching and the one at Brown Muffs would be priced higher than Chadwicks and it would be sold first.

My father's workshop started in the old Union Street, then to the Telegraph Chambers corner of Bridge Street and Market Street, then on to the bottom end of Sunbridge Road.

Chadwicks shop started in Tyrrel Street opposite Collinsons Caf, then to Market Street facing the Town Hall, then to its present position.

Eric A Heywood, Avery Tulip Court, Edward Turner Close, Low Moor.

SIR - It is important around the Bradford area to have operations which are very well set-up and look after all stray, injured and unwanted cats, old and young. Brenda Satterley's Cat Rescue on Allerton Road next to Seabrooks Crisps is just one such operation. It's run by various volunteers who really do care about all the cats in and around the Bradford area.

Bradford Council unfortunately want to close the Rescue down, but I'm sure when they realise how valuable it is to the area they will hopefully keep Brenda's Cat Rescue open.

To close it down would be a tragic loss to Bradford as a whole.

P Helliwell, New Street, Idle.