Hear all sides: GOLDEN JUBILEE

We must assume that Charles will eventually become King of England and it is certain that he will marry the former Mrs Parker Bowles and she will then become Queen Camilla.

We know that Charles' two children from his first marriage have the titles Prince William and Prince Harry.

Then, one of our group asked the intriguing question: what titles will be given to Queen Camilla's two children from her first marriage?

These two will then become step-children of King Charles. Will these children have equal rank? - T Bowyer, Peterlee.

WHAT a sense of pride and excitement the scenes of the massed crowds in The Mall, waving their Union Flags, gave to any patriotic viewer on June 4. How good it was to see the British people joyfully revelling in being who they are and celebrating the Golden Jubilee of our Queen.

What a terrible thought that, in years to come, the sight may never be repeated.

Instead of the red, white and blue flags, it will be a sea of blue with a circle of yellow stars. Instead of Land of Hope and Glory being heartily sung, it would be a hymn in praise of the Superstate of Europe, of which we would be a minor region.

All that will depend, of course, on whether or not we would be allowed by the European Parliament to celebrate anything of a remotely nationalistic nature. After all, as a separate, sovereign nation we would no longer exist. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

SINGLE CURRENCY

We have recently returned from a two-week holiday in Majorca, and were astounded at the rising cost due to the euro.

To add insult to injury, we were charged one euro per person per day of our stay in your hotel, this was called 'the eco tax'. What do we get for this, I asked the reception, and the reply was just a shrug of the shoulders.

All the shopkeepers told us they did not want the euro and it was cutting their sales down. I am not surprised, as we will certainly not go to Majorca ever again.

If this is what the euro means, then come on British public, let the Government know that we do not want the euro in our country. - S Tait, Staindrop.

I AM writing in to correct the perception that some of your readers seem to have about war.

Numerous times people have written saying: "What we were fighting for in the war" as a reason/excuse why we should not go into Europe.

They seem to think that soldiers fight people because of where they are from, regardless of what those people are thinking.

This is a cruel way to show it, as it is not the real reason.

The real reason why we fought was to bring down the walls of tyranny and dictatorship, not to fight people because they were from a foreign country!

The sooner these people realise this, the sooner the war can really be over. - I Mahoney, Shildon.

ONCE again we read almost hysterical outpouring from eurosceptics, frightened of the possible conversion to the euro.

Why on earth should this destroy our sovereignty? (It would be interesting to know what that means to various people). And our politicians would have to be alert to possible wrangles.

It is merely to align our currency with most of Europe, helping trade and tourism, that is all. We will still be British in our ways, customs and outlook. - Fred Atkinson, Shincliffe.

EDUCATION

THE cash crisis in our schools and the prospect of teachers been made redundant because of lack of Government funding are now very real.

A survey carried out by the National Association of Head Teachers showed that almost 50 per cent of schools nationally may have to make staff redundant.

The present Labour Government was elected in 1997 and re-elected in 2001 on the platform of 'education, education, education'. Once again, the promises have fallen on stony ground and the British people are let down.

The education of our children must be given top priority by any Government. They are the country's future.

The Labour Government must act now before it passes the point of no return in the field of education and make available the necessary funds.

With the problems in transport, increasing crime, health and education, is the party over for Labour? - Coun Stephen Smailes, Conservative Group Leader, Stockton Council.

Afghanistan

I WATCHED a TV programme recently about the Kichi people who eke out a meagre existence on the desert plains of Afghanistan.

They live in patched-up tents which may offer some shelter in summer but they must suffer from the terrible cold of winter.

A little girl of around ten-years-old was carrying a little boy who must have been a brother.

There were other children about with fine features and large brown soulful eyes.

It was not difficult to imagine they did not have much of a life, let alone anything to look forward to as they grew up.

They looked into the cameras, no doubt wondering who these strange people were and what they were doing in their midst.

The Americans and ourselves are pouring millions into the pockets of the Afghan warlords who are supposed to be the arbiters of peace.

What a sick joke!

These warlords are as cruel as the Taliban and we do nothing to stop them.

None of the huge sums pouring into Afghanistan ever reaches the truly poor such as the Kichi people.

We should be truly ashamed of ourselves that we allow these things to be done in our name, but the sad fact is we couldn't give a damn about the suffering in countries like Afghanistan and it is little wonder that they see us as the terrorists. - Hugh Pender, Darlington.