04/05/2005

Dale was magnificent when captaining Natal and the South African 'A' sides.

He was being groomed as the next South African captain to follow Shaun Pollock, but unfortunately his batting form suffered, as he was asked to bat usually when the second new ball had just been taken. Hence the appointment of Graham Smith.

Dale is an extremely good all-round cricketer, and a very good signing for Durham. Martin Moxon is fully aware of this.

I have first hand knowledge of the ability of Dale, having lived in South Africa for many years.

Good luck Durham, you are very lucky to have a player of Dale's calibre playing for you. - Brian Sargent, Barton.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

I WOULD like to express my disgust at the way the decision to close two primary schools in Darlington has been carried out (Echo, Apr 27).

Paul Campbell, of Darlington Borough Council, states: "We are trying to do the best for everyone involved."

I wonder if he and the powers that be have made sure that the teachers and staff will be found alternative posts? I do not think so.

This issue seems to have been ignored. Some of the teachers have given many years of dedicated service at Rise Carr School.

I am sure that many students proposing to enter the teaching profession will think twice before coming to a decision after this issue, and rightly so.

Rise Carr School was and is the heart of the community and, due to the joint efforts of parents and teachers, not forgetting the pupils, it has flourished only to be dealt a cruel blow.

As a former pupil now a senior citizen, I wish the staff, parents and pupils my best wishes for the future and sincerely hope they are able to adapt to the situation. - M Mason, Darlington.

UNITED WE STAND

ALL of us who lived through the Second World War have a variety of experiences. Those of us who survived have the common thought that it must not happen again.

The need was and is to understand the situation that led to extremism where disputes between countries are settled through conflict.

In Europe, people such as Winston Churchill, Jean-Claude Monet and Maurice Schuman set out to create organisations that would ensure that such conflicts would never happen again.

The coal and steel agreement (the Treaty of Paris) was the start of what is now the European Union.

The move was always going to take time as sectional interests placed obstacles in the way of progress. It has always been a sound policy to look at the small print before signing up. That is what our politicians do.

There is, however, a need to dispel the myths about the union from people who would have us regress from the situation that continues to bring peaceful co-operation not only with those within it but also with those who are outside of it.

On both VE Day and European Day it is appropriate to remember those who did not come back from the war and those whose lives have suffered.

The EU is a fitting tribute to their sacrifices and should not be denigrated in the name of narrow sectional interests. The union is worth its weight in peace and we should seek to remedy its faults rather than run it down. - Bill Morehead, Darlington.

CITY'S SLICKER

PETER Jefferies' letter (HAS, Apr 30) showed how confused people are about the division of responsibilities between Durham City Council and Durham County Council.

Of the four "city council white elephants" he mentions, three are actually county council initiatives - only the Gala is a city responsibility.

But actually I believe all four are, or will be, real improvements to the city.

The pedestrian situation in the city centre has already been much improved by the toll system (which does work well most of the time). The cathedral buses are no longer travelling empty most of the time.

The Gala, after a difficult beginning, is now near to breaking even and the performances by the Stage School, in particular, are breathtaking.

Mr Jefferies does not mention the county council's best traffic-related achievement - the very successful traffic signal system at the Milburngate roundabout. I'm sure the park and ride scheme will be just as successful.

I, for one, am glad to pay some of my council tax for all the above. - John Hawgood, Durham.

BUMPY RIDE

RE: Too much to stomach, (Echo, Apr 27). Being pregnant isn't all fun and games, so I am disappointed that you feel the need to add to the misery of it all by adding the words "wobbling", "bulging" and "stretched" to the minds of hormonal women. Mothers-to-be are probably depressed at the thought of being fat over the summer.

But I can't think of anything nicer than sitting in the glorious sunshine with my son and baby daughter, seeing pregnant women with bumps on show for all to see.

Being pregnant isn't something to be ashamed of and doesn't the sun help to get rid of stretch marks? - Paula Dobbin, Darlington.

SCALES OF JUSTICE

RE Kathy Barley's letter (HAS, Apr 21) regarding the suffering of fairground goldfish.

Surely she has got her priorities wrong.

What about all the unlucky millions of fish landed by thousands of anglers who take them out of the water to be unhooked, weighed and inspected, before being returned to their natural habitat. The stress that these creatures must suffer should be considered.

Now foxhunting has been banned as a cruel sport, angling should follow suit. - AE Carr, Middleton St George.

PREJUDICED ATTACK

HL Brown of Leyburn accused me of waging a war against Christianity (HAS, Apr 25) and of choosing "to judge the faults and failings of human beings past and present, while overlooking the wonderful acts of goodness, kindness and sacrificial giving performed by Christians".

I wasn't attacking Christian values, nor was I attempting to deny so many wonderful acts done in the name of Christianity. I celebrate the positive achievements of Christianity. I was refuting Peter Mullen's prejudiced attack on atheism and his presumption that atheism is the enemy of virtue. As a Humanist, I reject appeals to an intangible authority and choose values consistent with our common humanity and our need to act responsibly on behalf of ourselves and our world.

Humanist values and Christian values have a great deal in common, but whereas adherence to a religion tends to demand that rational arguments are forced to conform to ancient 'revelations', humanism is free to ask questions and form independent judgements. - Roger McAdam, Durham.

CUT IT OUT

HAS Aled Jones (HAS, May 2) run out of things to write about so he is reduced to writing about Camilla's hair?

Women wear their hair the way they want to, and how it feels comfortable. (He needs to take a look around next time he's out.)

What does it matter anyway?

Camilla doesn't tell him how to wear his hair. - Mrs K Harris, Barnard Castle.