Simply Smith

I am pleased that young Katie Whitaker has been enabled to represent this country at next year's Special Olympics in the United States, as the Keighley News reported last week.

I am also delighted that Phil and Susan Bowness have felt able to provide the wherewithal that this might happen.

Katie and her family, I have no doubt, will feel indebted to Mr and Mrs Bowness for their generosity, such indebtedness will probably be tinged with not a little gratitude.

However, I have to ask, should Katie and her family, as well as the many other young British athletes who lift, run, jump, throw or whatever in this country's name, have to rely on the large hearts and exceptional kindnesses of people like the Bownesses?

As in so many other aspects of life in this country, central Government does things on a shoestring.

The Arts are having to exist on an increasingly meagre handout from the Arts Council, voluntary services are given less and less by both local and central Government and many people bemoan the everlasting cutbacks that have haunted us throughout the eighties, nineties and will continue to do so well into the 21st century.

In other countries, typically the United States, structures are encouraged to ensure that youngsters with ability get the encouragement and, just as importantly, the financial backing they need to progress.

Our children are the seed-corn upon which this country's future depends.

They should have everything they need as of right, and not have go with a begging bowl to friends, neighbours and people like Phil and Susan Bowness.

We seem to have got many things upside-down: using Lottery money instead of taxation, spending billions on the millennium dome when thousands of youngsters go homeless, suffering inferior services produced by wholesale de-regulation.

We all cheer loudly when our representatives in the fields of sport, art, music, drama and whatever achieve international prominence.

As a country we should be big-hearted enough to dig into our pockets and creat an environment that celebrates these achievements.

It is not fair that sportsmen and women like Katie should have the extra burden placed on their shoulders of having to finance their efforts. It cannot be beyond the wit of politicians and bureaucrats to devise frameworks through which those of exceptional ability can be enabled to shine, both for themselves and the rest of us.

For centuries Great Britain has produced individuals whose work and abilities have benefited the whole world.

It never ceases to amaze me that such a small country can have reaped such a rich harvest. One has only to consider people like Alexander Graham Bell, Sir Isaac Newton and a thousand others who have enlightened and enriched our lives.

Like any other crop, though, the quality of the harvest depends on many factors: the soil, the seed, the weather.

If we are to produce a continued stream of fine athletes, musicians etc, an environment in which they can develop must exist, not as charity but as of right.

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