I was always under the impression that the first century started on January 1, 0001, and carried on to December 31, 100, the next from 101-200 and so on.

So the 20th century started on January 1, 1901, and will end, by popular vote, on December 31, 1999; a view endorsed by the government. The same government that is very concerned about numeracy standards in schools and elsewhere, but expects me to swallow some poor arithmetic!

However, I am not over concerned about the actual anniversary because in the 1700s, I think, there were 12 days lost due to a rationalisation between two calendar systems: Julian and Gregorian. And besides which, if we really want to celebrate two thousand years since Jesus Christ came to earth we are too late anyway: it happened about two years or so ago, as I am reliably informed that he was actually born about 4BC.

R TICKNER,

Florist Street, Keighley.

SIR - This letter is addressed to the person/persons responsible for the break-in at my mother's house in Devonshire Street.

I had to come home suddenly in August with the death of my mother. The contents of the house had to be packed up and the house put up for sale.

Everything was packed up and waiting for family to move it when I flew back to Canada on Thursday. The next day someone broke into the house and stole things.

I cannot believe a human being could stoop so low as to steal from a home of someone who has just died. Words cannot describe the tears and heartache we felt when we were still grieving over our sudden loss, and then to face the shock of the break-in.

Some day I hope these people will go through what we had to go through. Then they will know what pain they caused and the heartache and tears of being robbed at this most sad time.

NAME WITHHELD,

Toronto, Canada.

SIR - I am delighted that the new direct rail link between Keighley and London is now in operation. It is great news. However, I feel I must point out, for the record, that it is not Keighley's first direct rail link with the capital as has been said. In the late 1930s I never travelled between Keighley and London (St Pancras), on return, except on a direct, through train. It took longer then - maybe five hours or so - and, as I recall, involved middle-of-the-night departures and arrivals at Keighley station; nevertheless it was a direct rail link which the Keighley of that day took in its stride, as of right. I cannot remember when the direct line was severed, but I am immensely gratified that it has at last been restored.

HOWARD STOWELL,

Fenndale, Waterlooville,

Hants.

SIR - If ever there was justification for a parish council it was exemplified last week, when the people of Haworth had to ask the fate of their own community centre.

A community should have the right to determine its own means to existence. Yet again, a community in the Worth Valley is the victim of a Labour Council that cannot or will not communicate or listen to a community it is supposed to represent.

As a consequence of the school review, the sale of the Haworth First School site will result in the demise of another village amenity. Whatever benefits may occur from the school review, the losses to communities across the Worth Valley are widespread and fundamental to the needs of the people who live here.

Please, don't wait for one disinterested department of Bradford Council to blame the demise of your community centre on another department. This Labour Council thrives and relies on the disorganisation and division in a community. If you want to save your community centre then you have to demonstrate that need, united, loud and clear.

Over 20 groups use the community centre. The extended family from those groups must total in their hundreds, join together and hold onto what is yours.

In the near future, I hope that through a local parish council, you will have local people with a real voice. Local people determining their own future and not a people having to go cap in hand to a Labour Council distracted by its own city agenda.

CLLR KRIS HOPKINS,

Worth Valley, Conservative.

SIR - The NSPCC and ChildLine

are urging readers to consider changing their method of paying household bills in order to raise vital funds for abused and neglected children.

Pay Point is a community based service that provides the cash-paying customers of utility and service companies with the alternative of paying or saving towards their household bills at convenient local newsagents, convenience stores, supermarkets and service stations. This service is designed, in particular, for those who make monthly, fortnightly, weekly or even more frequent payments, using meter keys, Gas cards or budget payment schemes.

Every time a customer makes a gas, telephone or cable payment at their local Pay Point outlet, a contribution will be made to benefit the NSPCC and ChildLine in the North East of England. If this scheme is successful it could be rolled out nationwide.

We are delighted that PayPoint, together with the bill -issuing companies in the North East, have developed such an innovative programme which will benefit the children who we offer care and support to. Nobody likes paying bills, but perhaps this scheme will take some of the pain out of paying - especially when local children gain.

CHARLIE SIMPSON,

Corporate Fundraising

Account Manager.

SIR - We are currently in the planning stages of producing a series of programmes for TV about people and their pets.

We are very keen to hear from any of your readers who have a tale to tell about their pets.

The emphasis will be on the relationships people share with their pets, and we are looking for responsible pet owners to give us their views on the secrets of their pet companions.

So if you are mad about your dog, or crazy about your cat or just potty about your pet, we would like to hear from you.

More information can be obtained by writing to me at Mastiff Films, Elmtree Film Studio, Haslinden road, Oswaldtwistle, Lancs BB5 3SN.

KEVIN HORKIN, Producer,

The Pet Role Trust.

SIR - Keighley Friends of the Earth have been in correspondence over the past few weeks with Geoffrey T Theasby, who had a letter published in the Keighley News last week 'Friends differ' regarding his view of the need for a Bingley Bypass.

It is good to have opinions from people who take the time to argue another view of local transport policies.

For Mr T to say 'that Shipley and Saltaire would suffer is no concern of Bingley's' does not tie in with Friends of the Earth outlook at the wider environmental picture.

Keighley Friends of the Earth do agree with Mr Theasby that something does need to be done about the transport problems. It is time to address the fundamental problem of transport in Bingley and elsewhere, but the bypass would actually add to more congestion further down the road and more environmental degradation.

Mr Theasby agrees that there is a problem, the place where we disagree is in the process to relieve it. The vast amount of money involved in building this road could be used to end the congestion in alternative ways. Friends of the Earth have moved on from the Predict and Provide principal when it comes to traffic growth, to a Predict and Prevent one.

Mr Theasby says that Penny Ward did not tell the full story in her letter the previous week because she did not state that she was a member of Keighley Friends of the Earth.

Penny is mostly involved with another environmental organisation.

I hope that Mr Theasby and Keighley FoE will not have to agree to differ, and that he will realise that it is time to back the alternatives first.

JANE HOWIE,

Keighley Friends of the Earth Co-ordinator.

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