09/06/05

Although not an official guest, I felt privileged to be there and was greatly impressed by the occasion, culminating with a spectacular low-level fly-past by a Lancaster bomber.

As voiced in the introductions, the commemoration of Pilot Officer Mynarski, and the events leading up to the award of his VC, formed part of the wider recognition of the service and sacrifice of all who flew from Middleton in the Second World War.

It was for me a surprisingly emotional experience as I stood beside visiting airmen with "Canada" on their shoulders, and likened them in my mind's eye to their predecessors whom I remembered, as a boy, when they were stationed at Middleton St George over 60 years ago.

Later in the day I stood in the graveyard of the church of St George, just outside the perimeter of the airfield, when the visiting Lancaster passed directly overhead after taking off to return to base.

Only two aircrew are buried there, but the ancient church has heard the engines of many other Lancasters (and Whitleys, Wellingtons and Halifaxes) leaving with their young crews on nightly sorties, from which many did not return.

The times were difficult but the spirit was strong and to recall the events of yesterday should help us meet the challenges of today. - Alan Pallister, Balmaclellan, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway.

I WAS greatly interested to read Thomas Axworthy's account of Andrew Mynarski's mission (Echo, June 3).

The article graphically told the story of what took place that night.

Though only a child at the time, I was nevertheless touched by the war as my late father served first in the TA and then in the Home Guard.

I have visited the Imperial War Museum in London and I was struck by the fact that those involved in the war were mostly young people who gave the best years of their lives to the conflict.

It is right and proper that war heroes are honoured and congratulations to The Northern Echo on its remarkable Forgotten Hero appeal. - LD Wilson, Guisborough.

AIR AMBULANCE

I HAVE no doubt that many readers will be concerned by the report (Echo, June 2) that two out of three helicopters operated by the Great North Air Ambulance service have been grounded through lack of funds. Helicopters are complex aircraft, expensive to purchase and operate.

However, unlike the police who use cost effective aeroplanes fitted with powerful cameras, there is, for the emergency air ambulance service, no alternative.

Moreover, although there is a tradition of charitable service in the UK, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a particularly good example, should we expect to find different levels of service in different parts of the country?

With such a significant reduction in the air ambulance service in the North of England, it may be the right time for our local politicians to explain why the air ambulance service in Scotland is funded by the government while accident victims in England and Wales must rely on charity to fund life-saving helicopters. - James A Cann, Durham.

EU CONSTITUTION

MERCI La France - le grand 'non' c'est magnifique. I hope this translates as: thank you France - your big 'no' was wonderful (if not I may have applied to join the French Foreign Legion).

Following the rejection of the EU constitution by France and Holland, our delight at the humiliation and discomfort this is causing the Godfathers of Brussels must be tempered with caution.

The EU is institutionally contemptuous of democratically expressed opinion and operates on one principle alone: "We will not take no for an answer." So, before anyone starts believing the current talk that the constitution is dead in the water they need to look at recent history.

Remember Denmark voted No to joining the euro. This was not in the Brussels script so they were forced to hold a further referendum. Thankfully, the Danes kept their nerve and voted no again, only by a greater margin. Similarly, Ireland had to hold a second referendum on the Nice Treaty, having rejected it first time around. Sadly at the re-run, the Irish caved in and said Yes, albeit narrowly.

Therefore, when Blair tries to wriggle out of granting us our referendum he must not be allowed to deny us our say.

We must be resolute in demanding a referendum - we must also ensure that the No vote leaves Blair under no illusion. We want our country back. - Dave Pascoe, Press Secretary, Hartlepool branch, UK Independent Party.

LIP-READING

THERE are at least 8.3 million people living in the UK with a partial or total hearing impairment. Hearing loss can cause devastating communication difficulties in every aspect of a person's life.

Lip-reading teachers can help hearing impaired people in many ways. As a hearing aid user with acquired deafness who has attended lip-reading classes, I found them of great benefit in regaining my confidence. Through the classes, I learnt new tactics for coping in difficult situations, information about useful organisations and aids for the television and telephone.

We are looking for mature people who have a caring and professional approach, who speak clearly, are prepared to learn about the practical and psychological problems of hearing impaired people and can communicate with them. Many hearing impaired people have successfully trained as lip-reading teachers.

Students who are eligible will receive some financial support. Please write for course details to - The Lipreading Teachers' Course, Manchester Metropolitan University, Elizabeth Gaskel Campus, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 OJA.

BIRDS OF PREY

I WAS interested to read your article (Echo, May 27) about the determined campaign to kill birds of prey on and close to the RSPB's nature reserve at Geltsdale on the Cumbria-Northumberland border.

There has been a history of similar incidents with illegally shot and poisoned birds being found on the edge of the reserve.

I am glad a location has been given, unlike in the case of the red kite Flash, in which the location was given as the Tynedale area, although it seems Flash was also found on Cumbria-Northumberland border poisoned with the same illegal poison in similar circumstances to some of the latest incidents.

I think it is highly likely that Flash, which was adopted by the children of Winlaton School, was found somewhere in the same area.

The public should be given the exact location where incidents of poison, traps and snares occur. If incidents take place on moorland, the moor and area should be named, especially now we have open access to the countryside. - Brenda Scragg, Bishop Auckland.