Readers' Letters

Although it was taken in 1949 and I wasn't there until the mid fifties I was able to name about a dozen of the teachers who were still teaching at the school then.

I wonder if any of your readers can name all the teachers.

Whilst on the subject of KGGS, may I ask any reader who has a copy of the entire school portrait, taken around 1956-57, if they would be kind enough to loan it to me so that I can get a copy made and return it to them.

I can be contacted at Burakin, Priestthorpe Road, Bingley, BD16 4LL.

MARLENE DOHERTY (NEE GRIFFITHS),

Bingley.

SIR - I have been a keen reader of your site on the Internet, although I do believe you can't beat the real thing. It can be a little laborious to say the least, and some of your stories are the biggest load of rubbish, but I expect that from a hometown news paper.

I would like to congratulate you on coming out of the dark ages and putting a bit of light into the lives of ex-pats like me. I really do appreciate it. Please update the site regularly.

Bill Mitchell

ex-Bracken Banker

South Africa.

SIR - I read with interest the Keighley News Opinion, Nov 6, with particular reference to 'the number of people losing faith with their local authorities, especially over planning matters'.

Many people in the Silsden area will suggest that is the under statement of the decade. There is a crisis in Silsden, not only a loss of faith but a total vote of no confidence in the City Hall politicians and officers.

For example, Cllr Greenwood, leader of Bradford Council, and the then acting chief executive Mr Kennedy visited Silsden Parish Council on September 3, when questions were put to the two visitors about various problems affecting Silsden.

Not one question has been answered to date. The crisis in Silsden can only deepen with the adoption of the Silsden Development Strategy by the Transport, Planning and Design Committee .

This document radically departs from the evidence submitted to the government inspector at the Public Inquiry. Originally the landowners were to fund the proposed access road, the so called Silsden Eastern Bypass, now provisions have been made for the public to pay and the council tax payers of Silsden and the district as a whole will be required to fund the following:

1 The initial design work for the access road.

2 The environmental assessment. This will be carried out by Bradford Council and I believe no one in Silsden will trust the outcome.

3 The committee endorsed the use of compulsory purchase powers by Bradford Council. To my mind this is the most obscene part of the document.

At no time has Bradford Council recognised farming as an industry in Silsden. I suspect that agriculture is one of the biggest employers in the parish, and for any farmer to have his livelihood disrupted or lost is not just a disgrace it is a scandal.

The committee should be ashamed of themselves for adopting the strategy and committing public funds to a scheme when the financial implications of the road, the cost of compulsory purchase and the environmental assessment were not given in the document.

Finally, the council talks of public consultation. In the earlier days of the UDP Cllr Womersley received a petition and 10,500 objection forms from the people of Silsden and he said "it won't make any difference". I rest my case.

KEITH NORRIS,

Craven Drive, Silsden.

SIR - May I, through your newspaper, thank the members of the three Silsden churches and the parents and children of the two Silsden schools for their generous response to the Christian Aid Appeal for Central America.

Thanks, also, to Budget Rent a Car who kindly donated the use of a van for a day, the van being filled with food and blankets which were taken to Leeds for transportation to Southampton to be shipped to Central American.

BRIAN TURNER,

Treasurer, Silsden Christian Aid Committee.

SIR - We were utterly dismayed to see your article 'Ghouls get in the spirit of Hallowe'en' (Friday November 6, 1998).

It's fine to raise money for charities like the ones mentioned, but surely things can be organised on a godly basis instead of all this devilishness?

What parents and young people don't realise is that Hallowe'en is a very evil thing. It might look like harmless fun, but it isn't and people who mess around in these things aren't doing themselves or their children any favours.

The historical background of Hallowe'en lies in the distant past when celebrations were held by the Druids in honour of Samhuinn, Lord of the Dead, whose festival fell on November 1 and marked the entry of winter.

It was druidical belief that on the eve of this festival, Samhuinn called together the wicked spirits that within the past year had been condemned to inhabit the bodies of animals. In medieval times, the church attempted to sanctify the pagan feast, by grafting the Christian festival of All Hallows Eve onto the ancient Celtic festival of Samhuinn.

Another matter of interest might be that as the ancient fires of 'burning the witch' faded, Guy Fawkes was substituted as the witch to be burned at the stake.

This explains why many Christians have a dislike of celebrating Bonfire Night on November 5.

It's all connected up with witchcraft and parents should heed the Bible's warning and watch out for their children.

MALCOLM AND PENNY GARFORTH,

Woodside Road, Silsden.

SIR - A year spent walking 600 miles of footpaths in the National Parks in the course of researching and writing The Inn Way ... to the English Lake District has given me time to consider some of the pressing issues facing the National Parks.

With a great sense of alarm I have realised that this important part of our national culture is grossly underfunded when compared to other aspects of cultural life, such as the theatre, opera and ballet. This inequality needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

There has to be an equitable distribution of national resources to ensure that the immediate problems facing our National Parks are dealt with, for example erosion, pollution, education, congestion, public transport and the overwhelming pressure on these wonderful jewels in the 'cultural crown' of England and Wales.

The matter has so concerned me in the year it has taken to walk those 600 miles (and also check out the 44 pubs which feature in The Inn Way.. to the English Lake District) that I have looked into the issue of funding in more detail.

Did you know that the National Parks get around 30p per visitor in Government support, while the large scale opera companies get around £30 subsidy for each person attending a performance?

30p compared with £30 - it begs some questions over who is allocating the resources for the nation's culture.

MARK REID,

Leeds Road, Harrogate.

SIR - The recent visit of the new elected German Chancellor was welcomed with open arms by Tony Blair and the Labour Government.

The smiling Chancellor said he didn't want to dwell on the past but to plan for the future, advising our Government to join the single currency in order to build a strong Europe and to boost industry etc.

The Director General of our CBI is sure that our industry will benefit, probably the large firms may, but what about all the thousands of small businesses in this country who will probably lose out in the change over?

Gordon Brown is planning to spend seven million to coerce the British people to drop the pound and to vote yes in the promised referendum.

What is the advice of Eddie George and the Bank of England? Do they think in the long term it will be a good thing for Britain, considering that we always rely on exports with other countries and could carry on in the same way, what is wrong with EFTA?

What is the Government, the Bank of England and the CBI planning to ensure that the German Central bundesbank does not milk our monetary structure in order to boost the European economy at the expense of our own?

We used to control the world's finance, things have changed, certainly, if the pound is too strong, then devalue it, but do not destroy it.

Don't forget, once into a single currency - we lose control of our own government and we will be ruled from Brussels.

DONALD ROBERTSHAW,

Oats Street, Keighley.

SIR - During November, my firm is taking part in Will Aid - the bi-annual charity initiative from seven of the UK's leading charities: ActionAid, British Red Cross, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Save the Children, SCIAF and Trocaire.

This means that during November I shall be waiving my fees for making a simple Will. Instead I will be suggesting that my clients make a voluntary donation to Will Aid 1998, of just £40 for a single Will and £60 for joint Wills. This money will be split between the seven charities above and will help to support their work with poor communities around the world.

So, if you haven't got around to making a Will yet, call my office to make an appointment. Making a Will is a simple thing to do. It gives you peace of mind and, if made with us in November, will also benefit thousands of others all over the world, some of whom have literally nothing to leave behind to their families.

JOHN BROUGHTON,

Devonshire Street, Keighley.

SIR - A charter has been launched to protect village services. It is a fact, in all areas within the Aire-Worth region villages are being deliberately urbanised yet there is an impression that the bankruptcy of village energy is an inevitable fact of life and that nobody is to blame.

Not so. There is a catastrophic cost to pay as planners and politicians bring chaos and despair to rural areas.

Planners and politicians forced businesses from rural areas. Result, even more houses are built. More houses, more roads, more roads, more cars, more pollution, more pollution, more sickness, longer waiting lists etc.

The other side of the issue and Bradford Metropolitan District Council is the perfect illustration of such madness is that as planners spend more time on ravaging rural life, urban life becomes forgotten. Houses within its boundaries are destroyed or are left to become ghettos of poverty as traffic flow increases, caused by the eviction of rural business and the rural development of outside areas.

A simplistic and pragmatic approach to issues which affect our schools, hospitals, roads, housing needs, would be for the omnipotent local leaders to talk to people before further egotistical plans are even considered.

DAVID SAMUELS,

Station Road, Oxenhope.

SIR - I would like to draw your readers' attention to the plight of the one hundred thousand children in Romania who will be spending this Christmas in an orphanage.

These children have nothing to call their own and to show them that they are not forgotten at this festive time of year, The European Children's Trust is encouraging everyone to send a card wishing them a Sarbatori Fericite - Happy Christmas.

Cards should be sent to the Romania Christmas Card Appeal at the Royal Mail, London SE1 5XA by December 12.

We will then deliver them to the children for you in plenty of time for Christmas. To find out more about the work of The European Children's Trust please write your contact details on the back of the envelope.

To you it may not be much, but to a child who has nothing a card is a very special gift. On behalf of all the children, thank you for thinking of them this Christmas.

KATE PIERCE,

PR & Campaigns Manager, The European Children's Trust.

SIR - The National School Governors Council has recently analysed whether local authorities have passed on to schools the money they have received from the government for education or whether it has been siphoned off for other uses.

Leeds spends 6.6 per cent more than it is given, North Yorkshire 6.2 per cent more, Lancashire 4.4 per cent more, Calderdale and Kirklees 1.1 per cent more, Bradford 2.9 per cent less.

Bradford spends £6,430,000 less than it receives for education and comes 136th out of 150th in a league table of local authorities according to this report.

Bradford has been bold and resolute - and right - in moving to an 11-18 system of schooling. But councillors must put their money where their mouths are and fund the system properly. Even if this £6 million were allocated to schools as it should be, Bradford schools would still be £16 million per year short of national average spending on schools.

JOHN ROBERTS,

Headteacher,

Oakbank School.

APOLOGY - To take part in the Imperial Cancer Research Fund 100km Himalayan Trek ring Frances Milner on 01827 50280 not the number printed in the Keighley News last week.

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