Letters to the Editor

The atmosphere was electric. The fans arriving at the ground were happy and good-humoured. Parents with their children, people rushing from work, all excited to see our new player.

However, true to form, the headlines next day in a national newspaper did not reflect this at all.

"Carbone unveiled to 500 beer-swilling Bradford fans." It was the same the day after in another national.

Obviously it has now become a pastime for the national press and media to knock Bradford City at any given opportunity.

To set the record straight, neither myself, my colleague or the fans I saw were "beer swilling."

I am very proud of my football club and the fantastic job Geoffrey Richmond has done for this city. It is time we stopped being the butt of the joke and were given at least some respect for our achievement.

We may not be as big as Manchester United, but we are in the Premiership and there on our own merit.

Paul Thornham, Sapgate Lane, Thornton.

SIR - I wrote to you recently asking you to try and trace an old friend of mine. I received a letter from him -two weeks ago. We were both overjoyed that contact had been made after many years.

A big thank you for your time and help in making this possible.

B Manson, Torre de Mar, Malaga, Spain.

SIR - Regarding your report about Joanna Lumley's agent being "Absolutely Furious" (T&A, August 9). Speaking for myself, family and many friends who have attended the previous Charity Balls, and have tickets for the next one, I have to tell you that we are all perfectly well aware that the "celebrity" is in fact a lookalike.

The organisers are not misleading anyone, and this only adds fun to a thoroughly enjoyable evening while at the same time raising funds for charity, which they have been doing for many years.

May I suggest that Miss Lumley's agent finds out a little about the particular charity that the money raised will be donated to, and considers all the hard work and effort which has gone into organising this event.

Mrs M Burton, Glendale Drive, Bradford 6.

SIR - With reference to the Joanna Lumley story, we are a struggling boxing club and often send letters to local businesses asking for funding. I would just like to let you know that out of the many letters sent to local businesses/charities, only a handful have replied.

Our club has been helped a great deal by PRS and The Three Chefs, and I know of many other groups in one community that receive sponsorship from them.

I think that although you reported the facts, your readers would have been given the wrong impression of The Three Chefs and the annual ball. I would like to say thank you to PRS and The Three Chefs for the assistance given to our club.

Julian Moore, chairman, Parks ABC, Wibsey Park Avenue, Bradford 6

SIR - I have subscribed to the Three Chefs annual charity and will be doing so again this year. It is good value and good causes benefit.

I do not know all of the people concerned but one of the principals was a member of the boxing section of the Bradford Police Club for Young People. I am well aware that he has always thanked God and his mentors for the privileges that a successful business has brought to him.

He has anonymously subscribed to many Bradford good causes and the youth centre, where until recently I was the director, has been one of them.

Those who regularly subscribed to the Ball know that the "celebrities" are lookalikes because the whole fun event is to raise capital for Bradford's charities and believe me Bradford's charities need every penny they can get to survive.

I do not believe that there has been any intent to deceive by the "Three Chefs". Their only interest has been much-needed funds for Bradford charity. It is a pity that more do not take a leaf out of their book.

Robert L Powell, Malvern Road, Chellow Dean, Bradford.

SIR - I was very interested to read Mr Philip Blythe's recent story of the charabanc he converted from a wagon with solid wheels.

I was lucky when I was quite young to have a trip out on one.

We set off from St James Church at Pudsey to Sunnyvale, Hipperholme and though it took almost a full day and was a bit bumpy, I enjoyed it very much. Happy days. I am now 86.

J R Kitchen, Carrbottom Road, Bankfoot, Bradford.