MINING

I WONDER if Hugh Pender (HAS, Aug 17) could answer a few of the following questions?

Has this gentleman ever been down a coalmine? Has he ever lived in a mining community? Has he ever known the fear experienced by those whose husbands and sons spent their working lives in the most unnatural surroundings?

Is he not now aware that many menfolk in these former pit villages are now enjoying a far healthier lifestyle than those relatives who worked underground?

Is he not now aware that thousands of former miners are still awaiting compensation for ailments they acquired in their work?

Is he not aware that his 'caring' government is holding back payments owed to these men - many of whom will die without receiving a penny?

The only good thing about the mines is that they are closed. - Name and address supplied.

RECREATION

I HAVE not been to Darlington's South Park for almost four years but nothing has changed by the children's play things.

There are still not enough benches for anyone who needs to sit down to watch their children play, but especially for grannies who get tired legs and do most of the looking after these days. - Mrs D Moore, Newton Aycliffe.

FOREIGN AID

THE African nations have a nerve asking for millions in compensation from the British Government for the slave trade centuries ago.

The Africans seem to forget that they sold their own people into slavery so they are also guilty of slave trading.

This country, over many years, has sent billions in aid to Africa only for their corrupt governments to embezzle their countries' money.

Britain is always helping other countries, so perhaps we should claim compensation for the many refugees we are keeping because these people are here because of their own countries' fault, not ours. - TE Crook, Bishop Auckland.

THANK YOU

I WOULD like to thank the gentleman and ladies who assisted me when I fell at the bus stop near Asda, Darlington, on Saturday, August 11, especially Gill Crawford who followed the ambulance to hospital and stayed until my brother arrived from Durham.

My thanks also to the doctors and staff of Ward 11, Darlington Memorial Hospital, for their care. - Mrs Olive Singleton, Darlington.

THE EURO

DOES Hugh Pender (HAS, Aug 17) not realise that the world markets for coal, shipbuilding and steel are not there now?

What's the use of producing a commodity that you cannot sell? You can only subsidise for so long and then it means closure.

As regards his remarks on the farmers, I think Tony Blair and his puppets have caused a lot of suffering to the farmers and the nation by the way they have handled the foot-and-mouth epidemic with the culling of thousands of animals.

And as regards Hugh Pender wanting another term, he should hope and pray that is not true about Mr Blair putting this country into the cesspit of Europe.

Sensible people realise that our friends and saviours are in America as previous events have proved. Let the nation have this referendum now before Mr Blair sinks us forever. - F Wealands, Darlington.

BUS TRAVEL

A RECENT article described how the centre of Darlington is to be cleared of traffic. Sounds lovely, but first could the planners organise a central bus station?

At present, buses and coaches leave from all parts of the town. After arriving on a long-distance coach, you have to search for a bus to your final destination.

Awaiting and meeting distance coaches is a miserable experience, slouching up against the Dolphin Centre wall for shelter. No seating available to make life a little more comfy and no loo.

Darlington is a pleasant town, the floral displays a delight, but it needs a mini-bus station (Leeds type) for the traveller. - Joyce Rutter, Richmond.

THE KURSK

AS the first anniversary of the sinking of the Kursk comes round, I thought how such a tragedy can even be capable of destroying a name.

During the Russian-German conflict, one of the most important battles was for the Kursk salient. During the massive build-up, Hitler was fully aware that defeat would end any hope that he had of defeating the Soviets. When the fighting began, it witnessed the biggest clash of armour ever recorded in the history of modern warfare.

With victory going to the Russians, the word Kursk was revered throughout the land, hence the naming of their best submarine, thought to be unsinkable. After the disaster, the word Kursk was fearfully expressed in low tone.

One may well ask: "what's in a name?"

I've no doubt in years to come, the children of the men of the ill-fated Kursk will have little difficulty answering that. - Douglas Punchard, Kirkbymoorside.