GEORGE REYNOLDS

AS a good businessman, George Reynolds will always be aware of the value of a good photo-call.

However, how much nicer it was (HAS, Aug 23) to note the positive images created with Terry Soley, portraying a gentler side to his nature, instead of the childish and unpraiseworthy ones he, with bad judgement, engendered via his convict ball and chain stunt.

Reminders of past anti-social behaviour is not what either he, or football in general, needs and such frivolity can send out wrong messages to some kinds of minds.

George's latest publicity goes some way towards showing that self-interest can be made to work in an enlightened way; to create positive rather than negative images and past personal wrongs turned into creating current personal and community rights.

On these terms, this cynic wishes him good luck and in the hope that many more big business leaders might join in with the same kind of sense of purpose, ie self-interest combined with the restoration of North-Eastern community spirit and expectations. - CS Simons, Bishop Auckland.

OVER the last few weeks I have received publicity for my lifelong support of Darlington Football Club.

However, I have never in all those years met anyone like George Reynolds. He has given me hope, support and great expectations for the team and club. George is not only the owner of the club, he is its greatest supporter and I thank him on behalf of all Darlington's fans.

Just as importantly is his commitment to help disabled supporters enjoy the game. This can be seen in the provision of first-class facilities for the disabled in the new stadium - undoubtedly the best in Britain. This commitment should be recognised nationally.

Thank you George for saving our club and I hope you receive the recognition and support you undoubtedly deserve. - Terry Soley, Darlington.

IMMIGRANTS

HOME Office Minister, Lord Rooker, has made a good suggestion that immigrants should be required to learn English as a condition of taking UK citizenship (Echo, Aug 18).

In the early days of American mass immigration, its would-be citizens had not only to learn English but also to be able to understand and be examined on the American constitution and laws.

If someone desires to become a citizen of a country, it seems reasonable to demand at least a minimum standard of understanding of their would-be home and an ability to live here without needing long-term support. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

BEDS CRISIS

WE need a new and better system in the NHS for keeping beds for emergencies and operations only in our hospitals.

With health care homes closing because they are not full and making a loss, it does not make sense when sufferers are waiting for beds for operations.

How would they cope if we had an epidemic?

The expenditure is not going to the right causes which would help the needy and not the gifted. - N Tate, Darlington.

STEELERS

CONGRATULATIONS to Teesside Steelers on reaching the grand final in the Rugby League Summer Conference in their very first season.

Their success proves that the game is alive and well in the North-East and hopefully, the region will be well represented in any future national structure devised by the Rugby League authorities. Good luck in the final. - JR Proud, Jesmond, Newcastle.

METAL DETECTORS

MR Selkirk of Chester-le-Street is concerned about British ratification of the Valetta Convention (HAS, Aug 23).

This is designed to stop cowboys with metals detectors destroying archaeological sties, stealing artefacts and to ensure sites are studied scientifically.

Article 3, of which he complains, does not ban metal detectors, it makes them subject to specific prior authorisation. It is not a European Union measure. It is the European Convention of the protection of archaeological heritage, brought in by the Council of Europe.

This is an inter-governmental organisation which consists of 43 member states, including 15 EU members. It is controlled by the foreign ministers of its members.

Here is yet another example of anti-Europeans 'confusing' one international group with another for whatever reason. - Robin Ashby, Secretary, North-East in Europe.

LABOUR MOVEMENT

THE Thatcher government smashed the greatest trade union this country ever had, the National Union of Mineworkers.

Now the same group of ruthless top Tories, along with help from the farmers, gentlemen farmers and the NFU, are hell-bent on crippling this Labour Government, by hook or by crook. They are leading Tony Blair by the hand.

One wonders, will he cross the floor of Parliament to win a third or fourth term in office? He may then go to the Miners' Gala. - Alf Pyle, Kelloe.

ZIMBABWE

I AM deeply distressed to read of Zimbabwe's barbaric treatment of its white farmers. How can the international community stand by and watch it happen?

I was outraged that its political leaders did not wish to condemn President Mugabe. - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

UNSUNG HEROES

THE letter from Jean Caines (HAS, Aug 27) brought to mind other people, like the girls in the munitions factories, who never got and never do get a mention, of what they did during the war.

The saving of Britain from the Germans during the early 1940s, which was known as the Battle of Britain, was, according to reports and propaganda at the time, due to a few RAF pilots.

When Winston Churchill mentioned 'the few' he meant the men and women of all the services and there were just 'a few' who were able to defend our shores.

The Ack Ack Batteries of the Royal Artillery, mixed batteries manned by men and women (ATS), shot down more enemy aircraft during this period than the RAF. They didn't even get a campaign medal because they were still in Britain. - R Kirby, Northallerton.

FOOT-AND-MOUTH

MY heart is breaking with the recent report that foot-and-mouth has flared up again in Northumberland. Not for the farmers nor the hauliers, not the Defra staff, nor visiting vets from abroad, not the army of civil servants nor the hole owners, timber and coal merchants or the chemical giants providing disinfectant by the lakeful.

No indeed, my heart is breaking for the poor souls who, up to now, have had no spokesperson or champion, no voice or input into the debate or, should I say, debacle. Which poor souls, you may ask? Me and the millions of taxpayers who have had to pick up the tab, now running into billions of pounds which, in some cases, has made overnight millionaires and swollen the coffers of the many companies providing essentials for this ongoing farce.

Will someone step forward without a vested interest other than the interest of the taxpayer to ensure that we are getting value for money and not, as many of us suspect, lining a lot of pockets? - David T Colling, Bishop Auckland.