11/06/04

During a TV interview, one of the ex-soldiers had the temerity to complain that he had been messed about. He was told by the interviewer not to dwell on that. Surprise, surprise, that is just what the interviewer did subsequently.

The ITV reporter described one of the complainants as being feisty. This was patronising, both in the choice of word and in the manner in which it was said.

How about this for a novel idea? Get all the great and the good standing out in the hot sun then have them await the pleasure of the important participants, the ex-servicemen and women. - WM Adamson, Yarm.

READERS of The Northern Echo will have been moved by the marvellous coverage of D-Day and must be proud of the veterans who fought against the evils of fascism and ensured that, 60 years later, we can live in a free and democratic country.

They will never be forgotten for their heroism and self-sacrifice.

We are as proud of our soldiers today as we were 60 years ago. - John Martin, Easington Village.

CSM Stanley Hollis VC was an invited guest at a CEMA concert held at Aycliffe in 1944, shortly after he had won his medal for bravery.

A packed audience applauded when he was announced and appeared on stage. Among his first words were: "I would sooner face what I did than be here talking."

Although I was in the audience, I was unfortunately not able to meet him. I was about 18 at that time.

Perhaps more of your readers were there at the time.

I still remember him, especially as he was the only VC medallist I have had the pleasure of seeing. - D Scott, Shildon.

MANY thanks and congratulations to The Northern Echo and its reporters for the excellent coverage of the D-Day campaign memories and events of Sunday, June 6.

Once again our paper could be trusted to handle with dignity and respect a very poignant and emotional happening.

A lot of hard work and dedication and research went into all that coverage.

Once again many thanks. - Mary Armstrong, Crook.

ROAD SAFETY

CAN I be the only one to worry about the characters in the Bob the Builder series riding on the outside of the vehicles?

When I was four, my six-year-old friend was riding on the outside of his father's tractor when he slipped. The wheel ran over him and killed him.

Surely, builders and farmers and health and safety departments should have mentioned by now that this practice should stop and the characters in the children's series placed inside the vehicles.

The rest of the time the characters wear safety kit, but the thing that will save lives is not done. - Mrs J Wain, Darlington.

EUROPE

THE obscene haste of EU federalists to drive through the EU constitution has come about largely through the law of unintended consequences.

As the glaring intention of the constitution, namely to abolish the nation state, becomes obvious to even the most starry-eyed of Europhiles, so too has the determination to resist this abomination grown apace in all member states.

Not content with the constitution and the European socialist manifesto, certain Euro-fanatics want the surrender of statehood to be not only total, but also brought about without further delays.

We should listen more to their counterparts across the Channel, at least they tell the truth about what is really going on.

Who do you believe? - Dave Pascoe, Press Secretary, UKIP, Hartlepool Branch.

PETER MULLEN

PETER Mullen highlights many of the things that are wrong in the habits - social, eating and economic - of many people today.

He goes on to say that people can do as they please with their own lives and it is no business of the Government to offer advice.

He states what we need is more personal responsibility.

It is precisely because people have a diminishing sense of responsibility that the Government feels it necessary to offer help and guidelines to improve the situation, particularly of children.

Obesity, fast food, debt getting out of control - of course the Government should help where possible. After all, it has to sort out the mess.

Of course, there are millions of people who lead well-ordered, sensible lives and try to ensure their children are raised to do the same.

However, there are far too many who are behaving like silly, unruly children and they need telling to change their ways or disaster lies ahead.

I am sorry, Mr Mullen, you cannot, on the one hand, say people can do what they like with their lives and, on the other, tell the Government to mind its own business.

It is the business of government to try and help the health of the nation.

I can just see you, Mr Mullen, going up to a drunk, overweight person telling them to show some personal responsibility. I shudder to think what their reply would be.

May I suggest, Mr Mullen, that you follow your vocation and try and save people from eternal damnation and prepare them for the eternal life you promise. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

SCHOOL THANK-YOU

ON Friday, June 4, a party of pupils and staff from Coltness High School, Wishaw, were involved in a road incident on the A66 on their way to Lightwater Valley Theme Park.

On behalf of the school I, as headteacher, would like to express our deepest thanks to all of the emergency staff who attended the incident.

The representatives of the ambulance, fire and police servies were very professional in the way in which they carried out their duties, but it was their cheerful, compassionate approach which was most appreciated by the staff and pupils.

It was a very stressful situation, made much easier by the manner in which we were treated. The staff at Darlington Memorial Hospital must also be commended for the manner in which they carried out their duties. Our staff were most impressed with their emergency procedures.

However, it was not only the emergency services we wish to thank but also the landlady of the Fox Hall Inn who was on hand to offer hospitality and comfort.

Our parents also pass on their thanks for everyone's efforts. - Donald Fergusson, Headteacher, Coltness High School, Wishaw, Scotland.