SIR, - My village is in a state of shock after the tragic death of one of our young lads. When something like this happens on your doorstep to someone you have known for most of their life you begin to question what's important and also to put things into perspective.

I was talking to Mark, or Webby as he was known by his mates, the night before he died when he came to call for my son to go on a night out in Harrogate: 24 hours later he was dead.

Addingham is a friendly, tightly knit community feeling the loss of one of its own deeply. Mark had many friends in the village, some he had known since play school at the age of two, remaining friends all their lives.

Mark's mates felt his senseless death very deeply. It has sent shock waves throughout the village. The lads are devastated to see one of their mates' lives snuffed out at such a young age and so tragically.

Mark was a lovely, polite, helpful lad, full of fun and full of life. We will all miss him deeply.

I was inspired at the sense of togetherness and support shown by his friends and can only imagine what Mark's family must be feeling now. My heart goes out to them and to the many young and sensitive friends Mark made during his life.

Rest in peace, Mark, we will miss you.

COLETTE MUNRO

Rose Terrace,

Addingham.

Festival value

SIR, - May I remind you that the 96th Wharfedale Music Festival begins on Saturday, May 11, and runs until May 18, culminating in a glittering Gala Night which showcases the cream of the week's performances.

Don't miss it! It really is your chance to enjoy at first-hand the stars of tomorrow. Last year proved to be the final appearance of Emma Williams, who makes her debut next month at the London Palladium opposite Michael Ball, playing the part of TrulyScrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

This year will doubtless see the final Wharfedale Festival performance of Natalia Keery-Fisher, who is currently to be seen on BBC TV on Friday nights with Jasper Carrott in his new series, All About Me.

Jack Shepherd, of Coronation Street fame, has also made his last appearance at the Wharfedale.

Please may I make an appeal that you come and support these richly talented rising stars. Nowhere in town during festival week will you get a better offer or such excellent value for money.

During the week, each session will cost £1 per adult (children under 18 free), and tickets for Gala Night (available from Grove Music and the Tourist Information Centre from the beginning of May) will cost only £2.50 (under-18s £1).

For further information, please call the Festival Secretary at any time on (01943) 872087.

ELIZABETH M HOLBROOK

Festival Secretary

No democracy

SIR, - The way in which foxhunting was handled should tell even the most intellectually challenged that our political system is undemocratic. After no less than six votes with an overwhelming majority to ban foxhunting, Blair's response is to have a further six-month period of consultation.

Having failed to get his way, we are now into delay tactics. Blair's House of Frauds, has more power than the elected House of Commons. The attitude seems to be, Parliament will continue to have votes until it gets the result. Blair wants and to hell with democracy.

At a more serious level, politicians act like military dictators who put the interests of capitalism before the lives of innocent people. In a most chilling television interview, the Minster of Defence, Geoff Hoon, said he will not seek any further legal approval from the United Nations for attacks on Iraq.

He also said he would not rule out a first nuclear strike, if 'he' saw a perceived threat. 'He' did not bat an eyelid at the prospect of millions of innocent people being killed in such a strike. No democracy here.

We, the people, are not asked if 'we' approve of such action. All anti-war protests are ignored and suppressed. Is it any wonder the public are apathetic to voting when we know politicians are all the same and all agents of Capitalism.

There is no genuine choice. The Conservatives and Tory Labour pass the baton of capitalism from one to the other. in an unequal race which has nailed the shoes of socialism to the floor.

The Houses of Parliament is sustained only by votes of the gullible and every vote cast gives credibility to a corrupt system. The only way to defeat and change this sham is to have a vote strike and force democratic reform.

The fewer votes they get, the less they can claim to represent the people, which with Blair's 23 per cent 'landslide' victory, they most certainly do not.

Malcolm Naylor

21 Grange View,

Otley.

Advice wrong

SIR, - I am the founder of the Bankruptcy Association and we are now in our 20th year offering indpendent advice on debt and bankruptcy issues. We are a totally independent UK-wide membership based organisation with an annual subscription of just a nominal £15 per year.

We are increasingly concerned about the poor quality of debt and bankruptcy advice being offered by other organisation that you would think ought to know better.

For example, one bankrupt person was told by a counsellor that he could not possibly run a business as a bankrupt. He wanted to set up a taxi service. In fact, it is perfectly legal for bankrupts to run businesses so long as they follow a few simple rules.

In another example, a bureau worker advised a young woman just out of university with £6,000 of credit card debts to go into bankruptcy - again completely the wrong advice. The woman could easily avoid this draconian step.

Further, large building societies and banks are constantly chasing people to try to recover shortfall debts from house repossessions when the people involved have gone bankrupt and are no longer liable for these debts. These are just a few examples of bad advice and practice. Throw into this general mess a bevy of debt management companies, and other sharks operating in the insolvency field, and those troubled people with debt problems end up in turmoil, simply not knowing what to do next.

When Government agencies and large institutions are incapable of providing the correct advice, it is little wonder that people will end up totally confused. They are then wide open to be further abused by unsavoury characters and companies operating a range of scams in this field.

Readers can learn more about our work and publications by visiting our website at: www.theba.org.uk or by telephoning our inquiry line for further details on (01524) 64305.

Our most popular guidebook on bankruptcy is entitled Bankruptcy Explained. This can be obtained for £7.95 (post free) from our freepost address below.

JOHN McQUEEN

Founder,

The Bankruptcy Association,

FREEPOST,

4 Johnson Close,

Lancaster,

LA1 1BR.

MP urged to sign

SIR, - A number of local MPs - Ann Cryer, Harold Best, Paul Truswell among them - have signed Early Day Motion 927. This speaks of awareness of unease on all sides of the House of Commons at the prospect that the UK Government might support US military action against Iraq; expresses agreement with Kofi Anan about the inadvisability of such a move and urges the Prime Minister to 'use Britain's influence with Iraq to gain agreement that UN weapons inspections will resume'.

However, we note that, as at March 4, 2002, Christopher Leslie's name was not listed as a signatory. Readers who are his constituents and share the views expressed might wish to write to ask him to do so.

Terrorism poses grave risks to us all. We do not believe that military action against Iraq, or indeed against any other country, will help to deal with the risks, and will in fact increase them.

He may not be aware that a group of his constituents in Burley-in-Wharfedale have held a Vigil for Peace regularly since the events of September 11, 2001, and continue to do so - on the last Friday of each month.

ALISTER and BERYL MILNER

Station Road,

Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Support for Ann

SIR, - Who would want to be an MP having to endure querulous, ill-tempered letters like last week's from Mr D Y Smith?

Ann Cryer must have a saint's patience! Yes, most of us hate Halal slaughter and most of us, the civilised ones, hate the hunting of animals to their deaths.

But not all the negative aspects of life in Britain today can be put right at the drop of a hat. Our courageous MP is endeavouring, against hostility, to have the status and education of Muslim women raised.

Candidly, who would want to return to the lacklustre, unlamented 20-year period of Conservative government?

Do we want the return of high levels of unemployment and high levels of debt interest? Do we want to return to the underfunding of health, education and transport?

Who would want a re-run of the senseless mauling of the rail industry resulting in the near-collapse of Railtrack which with other fiascos like the poll tax resulted in the waste of billions of pounds? Short memory, Mr Smith?

Yes, indeed, do carry on, Ann, in your valiant efforts to ensure that we never return to Conservative misrule.

AUDREY HARGREAVES

The Moat House,

North Street,

Addingham.