21/06/05

South Terrace runs the length of the road past the cricket field. We were there for all the war years and many years after.

The field was used for football matches, mostly on Saturdays. I was not very old but I can't remember the whole place being in such a mess as it seems to be now.

As young people, we were allowed to walk round the field as long as we took notice of the caretaker (a Mr Ted Shepherd).

Also, I believe some of our soldiers from Dunkirk were billeted there for a while. Also POWs were stationed there.

On a summer day it was a pleasure to just sit in the field and get the smell of freshly mown grass. It is a sign of the times that places left unguarded are vandalised. - FW Bennett, Northallerton.

HOSPITAL BIBLES

RE: M Greenhalgh's letter (HAS, June 16). Might I suggest that the real reason hospital bosses are considering removing bibles from patients' bedsides is in order to enable everyone to take comfort as they see fit, rather than assuming that everyone "needs God in their lives in order to be made whole and to get happiness".

I am very happy in my life and am an atheist. I also happen to respect everyone else's choices in regards to spirituality and would rather see these so called "hospital bosses" provide a Koran and the Torah along with the Bible than remove them altogther. Mrs Greenhalgh needs to appreciate that we live in a multi-faith society and I, for one, do not see why any single belief should overshadow another.

Perhaps these hospital bosses are wisely trying to remove sanctimonious views like Mrs Greenhalgh's from our hospitals rather than religion. - Matt Stasiak, Darlington.

Weardale RAILWAY

The Weardale Railway enthusiasts might surely do well to discuss the following before they go any further:

1. An honourable first priority might be to raise enough money to pay those who gave service to the project but found themselves unpaid or out of a job.

2. It seems essential to contact other nearby railways and to learn from their difficulties: the successful Wensleydale Railway which is in urgent need of funds; the Bowes Railway which apparently has problems in attracting volunteers and the new South Hylton -Sunderland branch of the Metro which is about to be run down.

3. Was the Weardale Railway intended to be a nostalgic history project or a modern transport amenity? Haulage by ancient steam "bangers" is fascinating but totally unreliable, costly and labour-intensive. Technically speaking, there would be no problem in electrifying the whole of the Weardale railway and running several through trains daily to Middlesbrough and York.

But if the massive development costs could be found, how would Weardale like to be transformed into a landscape of industrial estates, "commuter" speculative buildings and high-rise monstrosities, which locals could not afford to live in?

4. Most importantly, if organisations promise money for a rail project they must not be allowed to get away with welshing on their commitments. Devoted enthusiasts deserve better than a continuance of such half-hearted dilettante tinkering. - E Turnbull, Gosforth.

NEW FILM

CAPITALISM and Other Kids' Stuff - a new film which argues the anti-capitalist case in simple language, and which has won much acclaim in recent months, can be viewed or downloaded at www.socialist-tv.com

The film, recently made in Hebburn, Tyneside, by four members of the Socialist Party, begins with a look at how we treat our children and explains in non-jargonised terms the insanity of a system that places profit before human need.

It is not some party political broadcast - you'll not hear the word "socialism" mentioned once in the film - just a reasoned and sane look at an insane world that is very much crying out for real change.

The film has been viewed on this site 18,000 times since March, and has been screened in universities across the US, on two public access TV stations in the US and is soon to be broadcast on TV in Venezuela. - John Bissett, Hebburn.

TRIMDON STABLES

I TRAVEL through Trimdon twice a day, five days a week and, being an animal lover and owner, was astounded to hear nobody in the surrounding area knew what was going on at these stables.

To leave animals to starve to death is far beyond my comprehension. Who does this blame lie with? It is not the residents of Trimdon. It is the person whoever was responsible for their care and well-being.

There is no excuse for this kind of suffering to animals. - V Morgan, Middlestone Moor.

PRAISE FOR STAFF

AS most people only put pen to paper when they want to complain about something, I thought I would write to commend the staff of Durham University Hospital.

I had two major operations in three months and can honestly say that the standard of my care, from my pre-op medical nurse to post-op district nurse, was absolutely superb.

The staff of Ward 14 were an excellent team who, despite being constantly rushed off their feet, were always pleasant and always found time for individual care. My praise goes to every single one of them.

During both stays I noticed that the ward was completely and thoroughly cleaned from top to bottom and the floors were polished. A bottle of antibacterial cleaning gel was at the end of every bed and every nurse carried an individual one. I observed that they were used by every single nurse and doctor between patients.

My consultant and his team kept me informed and made me feel at ease at every stage of my treatment.

The theatre staff were superb and had a great sense of humour. Thank you very much and keep up the good work. - NH Johnson, Durham.

SCHOOL PLEA

AID to Africa is currently at the top of the news bulletins. Your readers might be interested to know that a group of staff from Mid-Cheshire College has responded by setting up a new charity to help a village in Lesotho build a new school.

Befole is a remote village in an extremely poor country in southern Africa. The school was destroyed by a hurricane and 250 young people are being educated in very difficult circumstances.

Our charity is called ASAP - the African Support and Assistance Project. We have set ourselves a target of raising £45,000 to fully fund the re-building of Befole School, using local labour and materials. If any of your readers would like to find out more about our project they can log on to our website at www.asapnet.co.uk.

We can be contacted at the address below or on (01606) 720515. - John Reilly, Principal, Mid-Cheshire College, ASAP Treasurer, c/o Mid-Cheshire College, Hartford, Northwich, Cheshire, CW8 1LJ.