SIR - Your article in the KN of December 30 about Keighley Tarn brought back many memories for me. I was born and lived in Cartmel Road, until the war, and a short time afterwards, and a lot of my youth was spent at the tarn.

In the summers I would sail my boat across the tarn for hours on end.

The winters were spent skating when the tarn would freeze. I remember the fire engines coming to pump water onto the surface, to make it freeze smooth if it had frozen in ripples, as it often did.

I remember in 1928-9 when it froze solid cars and motorcycles would tow skaters on the ice. At night cars would line up round the tarn and shine their headlights - it was quite a sight. That same year I also skated on the River Aire at Stockbridge, and the canal was frozen too.

At the tarn there was a building where a husband and wife lived, and he made boats. The moulds are still there today.

He would put a sheet of aluminium over the moulds and lower the other part to shape the boat. These boats were hired out for two pence an hour. His wife would make Oxo drinks etc to sell. It was a very popular place.

My wife and I still enjoy a walk round the tarn, and watch the wild life there. But the paths are in a poor state with many potholes to watch out for.

They could easily be filled in - but we appreciate the improvements that have been made.

ALBERT NAYLOR

Clough Ave, Steeton

SIR - The recent events surrounding Lord Archer and Neil Hamilton have raised again the spectre of sleaze in public life. As we enter the New year it might be of interest to readers to know of two local areas where standards are being raised.

Since April 1999, the Keighley Planning sub-committee has dispensed with party briefings which preceded the planning sub-committee and led to the suspicion that decisions were made about planning applications before schemes were aired in public. Also the pressure to vote on party lines has been abandoned; members of the planning sub-committee are free to use their discretion in reaching decisions, subject to planning law.

The new Council structure agreed on December 14, 1999, includes a standards committee, chaired by an independent lay person.

The standards committee will aim to secure high standards of conduct and promote good practice.

The committee will be chaired initially by the Bishop of Bradford.

CLLR JOHN COPE

Labour Worth Valley

SIR - Cllr Leathley publicly stated in this newspaper that he will now consider planning applications bearing in mind local opinions.

Does this statement imply that at last we, the people, have a champion of democracy in the guise of the Deputy Chairman of Keighley Planning Committee, and that no more public protests are needed?

If that be the case then all can stop upsetting Bradford councillors, knowing that the will of the majority of the electors will prevail, which is what democracy is all about of course.

So, no emotive language is needed to remind Bradford councillors that they are the servants of the people and not the masters.

However, may I remind Cllr Leathley the new UDP he so demonstrably supports, soon to be inflicted upon this area, will continue to disproportionately allocate more housing in this area than in Bradford.

As he seems to imply that he is the people's champion in this region, will he now encourage his masters in Bradford to clean up Bradford and instigate the regeneration plan for the Bradford district.

His planning colleagues could build 10,000 houses in an area that desperately needs new homes, thereby totally illuminating further need of choking off the greenery of this era.

If he cannot do something as simple as that, then will he encourage his friends at City Hall, in the spirit of democracy of course, to create a fund, with which opponents of the next UDP can effectively challenge the might of Bradford Planning follies.

At the last UDP, Bradford City officers and councillors spent a vast sum fighting their own electors. When 99 per cent of the population were against the UDP it became a situation that was undemocratic. Let's see if Cllr Leathley and his colleagues have learnt anything from the past. Sadly, I doubt it.

RUTH BLACKMAN

Prince Street, Haworth

SIR - Contrary to Jan Creamer of the National Anti-Vivisection Society, the laws governing animal research in this country are recognised as the strictest regulations in the world.

I believe that patient's rights should be first and should win over the emotional propaganda of animal research abolitionist groups who would like animal research abolished at the expense of seriously ill patients.

It is important that those of us concerned with the welfare of sufferers of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Muscular Dys-trophy, Cystic Fibrosis and Multiple Sclerosis amongst others make a stand.

Seriously Ill For Medical Research (SIMR) is a patients group which supports the humane use of animals in medical research where absolutely necessary.

We have published a leaflet which explains the provisions of the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and gives a more balanced opinion on this issue.

We urge patients or others to join us in our battle to safeguard future medical progress by writing to SIMR, PO Box 504, Dunstable, Beds, LU6 2LU.

TOM BROMLEY

SIR - I was surprised, honoured and embarrassed when a delegation of Oxenhope villagers called at my home on the first day of the millennium to sing a Christmas carol (three times) and then to recite a specially written poem.

That I had also been mentioned in the Keighley News 'Cream of Keighley' page compounded my embarrassment.

You know as well as I, that other people in this region have done far more for Keighley than I could ever do.

In particular what surprised me was that the Keighley News itself has not given itself a pat on the back for all the good work that the newspaper does for this area.

While not able to agree with everything in the Keighley News, I sincerely believe that this newspaper has been instrumental in promoting charity and true democracy within this area. These facts alone should entitle the Keighley News to many more national awards.

In your opinion page a passing reference was made to your increased sales pattern. I suggest that without looking too far such an increase in your sale could be put down to the fact that the Keighley News and its staff are trusted by local people for honesty and integrity.

Maybe other members of society purporting to represent the public should take note of the success.

DAVID SAMUELS

Station Road, Oxenhope

SIR - I write to thank you and your readers for helping to make the first International Year of Older Persons such a success.

Hundreds of events took place during the year, including a number in your area, to put older people in the spotlight, challenge stereotypes about ageing and influence on Government policy.

The number of over-60s will double in the next few decades, making ageing one of the most important issues of the millennium, and something I hope your readers will celebrate.

SARAH BERGER

Manager, UK Secretariat

c/o Age Concern England

Sir - What a shock, seeing ones self 49 years back. Any chance in getting the clock put back, the stunning 'Jean Gunning' what memories.

Did the paper get any feed back on your publication? I'd like to get in touch with Doris Hayton.

It would be great if we had a class of 50 reunion or something.

Thanks for the memories Ed. I read the Keighley News on the web. We are on www.adelaide.net.au/

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.