Letters the the Editor

I understood his ashes would be scattered in a wooded area at Scholemoor.

On the first anniversary of his death, my niece and I took a beautiful arrangement of flowers to Scholemoor. To our disgust the wooded area was a disgrace.

I just broke down in tears when I saw the state it was in: empty pop cans, empty crisp bags, dead flowers all over. Surely my husband deserved better than that?

I was told the area was looked after. If I had known what I know now, I would have scattered my husband's ashes on the rose bed in my garden. At least he would have had a more dignified end.

If that's what happens when the Social Security pays for the funeral, then I would rather be buried in my own garden.

Mrs R Gill, Allerton Grange Drive, Allerton.

SIR - Rarely in the annals of the T&A can a more pernicious, vindictive and malicious letter have been allowed to be printed in the paper than that from David Pendleton (April 16).

I never thought or indicated that the Valley Parade Disaster Fund "somehow bought off" victims of the fire. What I did say was that the money paid out to victims would have been taken into consideration by Commercial Union should any victim subsequently claim under City's Public Liability Policy.

Had this fund not been started, Bradford City would have gone bankrupt, as their P L policy had a £1 million maximum indemnity.

So indirectly and coincidentally, all those contributors to the fund, without realising or intending it, saved Bradford City.

Mr Pendleton, with ludicrous naivety, says "there was little if any claim for legal action". Does he seriously contend that victims of the fire, had they not been generously compensated from the fund, would have refrained from claiming because City was their football team?

Also, in stating "the fire was viewed as a terrible accident, nothing more," Mr Pendleton shows himself woefully ignorant of a company's legal responsibility and insurance culpability.

The accusation that I said anywhere in my letter "it was a bribe" is untrue.

Les Brotherton,Caroline Street, Saltaire.

SIR - I am writing with reference to a letter (T&A, April 11) in which a reader objects to funding a council employee's pension.

I wish to state that council employees all make a contribution to their own pension. I myself paid six per cent of my salary for 38 years, and the Council paid in a likewise sum.

In Bradford the schemes began in 1924 for officers and 1929 for other staff like bus drivers etc.

This schemes would apply in other municipal authorities.

Miss D M Sowden, North Park Road, Bradford 9.

SIR - Re recent letters about celebrating St George's Day on April 23.

I think at a time when pride in our birth country is important (for all cultures), it is better to be proud or at least be more knowledgeable about St George for future generations.

There are celebrations for St Patrick's Day (Irish), St Andrew's Day (Scottish) and St David's Day (Welsh), so it's right to have more pride in "our day".

I already "celebrate" St George's Day, as it is my birthday and my parents were wise and christened me April Rose, so I suppose I've got more purpose to support the drive to make it a celebrated day and more recognised than it is now.

April Rose Shaw, Braithwaite Avenue, Keighley.

SIR - Thank you for your very balanced report of my advice to the Beckhams about christening Brooklyn (T&A, April 2). I'm sorry your correspondent Mr Boase missed it (T&A, April 15).

As he says, it is a while since he opened his bible. The verse he quoted, "Suffer the children to come to me", leads straight into the exact christening service I was recommending to the Beckhams: the "Thanksgiving and Blessing" where Jesus "took the children in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them."

It's a lovely service, it's biblical, and I invite Mr Boase to come and see it for himself tomorrow, 11.15am, at St Luke's, Eccleshill.

Rev John Hartley, Eccleshill Vicarage, Fagley Lane, Eccleshill.