05/06/04

My stepfather was CSM Hollis' commanding officer on D-Day.

My stepfather rarely spoke to his close family about the war, but on one occasion he did tell us that, shortly before the troops were to disembark on Gold Beach, condoms were distributed to be put over the ends of rifles etc to keep the water out when they landed. Stanley Hollis' reaction to this was that they had come to "fight the Germans, not to f*** them"!

One small inaccuracy in your article is that you refer to Ronnie Lofthouse as having been awarded the Military Medal. He was in fact awarded the Military Cross - I believe for his work a couple of days after D-Day. I understand the medal was awarded to him in Normandy by General Sir Bernard Montgomery, and he later received a letter from King George VI.

Incidentally, my stepfather's great friend was Major Frederick Honeyman of the Green Howards whom you also featured. He was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry on D-Day, but was killed in action five days later.

My stepfather and Major Honeyman shared the same birthday, May 9, and I clearly remember as a relatively young child that on May 9 each year (or the nearest Saturday or Sunday to it), my family would go down to Orchard Road in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, to have a birthday tea with Major Honeyman's parents, Norman and Gwen.

After the war, my stepfather re-commenced his career as a chartered accountant and he worked in Sunderland and Newcastle. He died three years ago and is buried in Matfen in the Tyne Valley. - MG Westgarth-Taylor, Carlton-in-Cleveland, Stokesley.

BENEFITS

I AM writing to ask for support for the Mobilise campaign, which is fighting to end the injustice of age discrimination in disability benefits.

The Mobilise campaign has the backing of organisations including Help the Aged, Disability Alliance, Royal National Institute of the Blind and Spinal Injuries Association. They are working to change the rules that mean that people who become disabled at or after the age of 65 cannot get help with mobility or low level care needs.

While younger disabled people get Disability Living Allowance, older disabled people get the much more limited Attendance Allowance. How can it be right to deny people help simply because of their age?

The campaign is asking readers to write to their local MP and ask them to sign the Mobilise Early Day Motion, number 953; or to log on to www.helptheaged,ord.uk/campaigns to send an e-mail in support of the campaign.

Please act now to stand up for the rights of older disabled people and to fight ageism. - Doreen Duguid, Darlington Stroke Club.

PRINCESS DIANA

I AM sick of the former Archbishop Carey condemning Princess Diana. Why doesn't he let her rest in peace?

I disagree that Camilla and Charles should marry and Camilla be queen.

When The Queen abdicates, Charles will be head of the Church of England.

He committed adultery, not Diana. In the Christian church they should not marry.

Dr Carey cannot be Christian if he condemns Diana.

May I also say that I am also tired of people condemning Bishop Auckland Hospital. I have yet to find anything to complain about from the receptionist to the doctors. They are very kind.

Thanks also to Durham County Carers I have used since 1980 - also with no complaints.

My current carer could not be better if she was my daughter. - Margaret Pinkney, Ferryhill.

POSTAL BALLOTS

IT'S the ritual of the polling booth that I will miss. There is no excitement in filling in a form solitarily at home and posting it off.

I liked walking to the polling booth and casting my vote in person. It was a straightforward procedure.

It was always on a Thursday and I could go to the 'event ' later that night and hear the returning officer announce the results. You seemed part of the election.

The bland anonymity of a postal vote lacks any stimulus. - A Jones, Ferryhill.

EUROPEAN ELECTIONS

EVEN with postal voting in certain areas it is likely the turnout at the forthcoming local and European elections will be well below 50 per cent.

The British people, I imagine, do not understand the significance of the European elections.

They are typical of the Luddites who will not move with the times and who will not accept the inevitable trend to some form of Federalism, as in the US.

The Americans do not want to deal with 25 countries all quarrelling with each other and trying to do separate deals with their rich ally over the water.

It is becoming apparent that, in the not-too-distance future, China will be the strongest economy in the world and it will present a real challenge to the US and Europe.

A divided Europe will give great encouragement to China and will surely dismay the US.

So there you have it: vote for a united Europe, a strong and prosperous Europe. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.

SCHOOL FOOTBALL

I WAS pleased to read (Echo, May 22) of children at Darlington's primary schools enjoying their football.

However, I must point out that people are mistaken in thinking that the leagues were suspended 30 years ago.

I can assure you that primary school football (league and cup competitions) were alive and well all through the 1970s and most of the 1980s.

It came to an abrupt halt when the previous government introduced the new National Curriculum which involved the teachers in much paperwork and gave scant recognition of all the time which staff spent after hours training children.

I'm sure children, staff and parents will get much pleasure from these activities and I'm glad to see the Government is recognising the value of PE once more. - CW Johnson, Darlington.

HELL'S KITCHEN

RUTH Campbell made a good point recently when she said that Gordon Ramsay of Hell's Kitchen fame should swap places for a while with his celebrity chefs (Echo, May 27).

Let him sing a song or act in a TV soap, says Ruth. It reminds me of the early 1970s, when Prime Minister of the day Edward Heath accepted an invitation to conduct the London Symphony Orchestra in concert. When the performance was over, the orchestra's regular conductor, Andre Previn said: "That was very nice, well done. There is, however, no truth in the rumour that I am going to reciprocate by being Prime Minister for a while." - LD Wilson, Guisborough.