Letters

BUS driver John Turnbull who was sacked for wearing his flat cap (Echo, June 16) raises important issues.

A driver who is in his sixties can have need of headwear and a cap is fine with the fashion of the region, as long as it meets the style of the uniform.

As for the argument that all buses have heating, this is not always the case and, in very cold weather, a cap does make a difference.

Then to assert that a Sikh, because of religious grounds, is allowed headwear is in itself discrimination.

I would say that a driver who is bald or who is nearing retirement has very good grounds for wearing a cap and, if the company is not prepared to issue one, then on the grounds of health alone, the driver has every right to wear his cap. - John Young, Crook.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

I READ with interest Mrs Pallister's letter (HAS, June 14) concerning poor spoken English on television.

She referred to previous items in The Northern Echo on the apostrophe, mis-spelling and the misuse of language.

I was upset at similar examples some years ago and joined the Queen's English Society. The Northern branch of the society is being established and holds meetings at which members and potential members can air their feelings and listen to a speaker.

The objects of the Queen's English Society are to promote and uphold the use of good English and to encourage the enjoyment of the language. The society aims to defend the subtlety and marvellous richness of our language against debasement and other forms of misuse. There is an interesting quarterly journal sent to all members.

The next meeting is to be held in York in September. I should be glad to hear from any reader of Hear All Sides who would like to attend the meeting and arrange car-sharing if required on (01325) 362462.

If enough local people are interested, we may hold the following meeting in Darlington. - M Dunstone, Darlington.

I WOULD like to add my pet hates regarding the English language.

The word basically is used several times in one sentence when there is no need to use it at all.

Then we have yeah, or okay spoken after every few words.

Finally, is there really a need to say twenty four seven - what is wrong with 24 hours a day? - Mrs Newell, Aiskew, Bedale.

PASTIMES

WE often read in The Northern Echo of wanton damage and vandalism, bricks thrown over motorway bridges, bus windows damaged and shop windows smashed.

Often, children are involved in this fracas; they say they are bored and have nothing to do.

When I was a child I do not think I was ever bored. Life was never dull. Children had hobbies. Looking after rabbits and pigeons was my favourite pastime.

Coxhoe had two cinemas. For sixpence, one could enjoy a good film. George Formby, Tarzan and Old Mother Riley were the stars of yesterday. We had good fun. We went to Durham City baths on a Saturday. There was never any vandalism. Young lads started work when they were 15. Coal mining was the biggest employer in the Coxhoe area. I think lads were too tired to do any wanton damage.

At 18, I enjoyed dancing at Spennymoor Rink. Late-night buses were engaged to take the people home. Often, West Cornforth Welfare held a late-night dance, but I think the best dancing venue was Thornley Colliery Welfare. It boasted a good band and a lovely girl singer. Happy days will always have happy memories. - Jimmy Taylor, Coxhoe.

FOOT-AND-MOUTH

THE letter from P and M Hague (Echo, June 15) shows the difficulties caused by foot-and-mouth.

Mr Hague has lost valuable turnover due to the footpaths being closed because of the epidemic, yet councils are obviously reluctant to re-open these rights of way due to the uncertainty of the resurgence of the disease.

It appears to me that most councils and the majority of members of the public are showing extreme caution over the disease and are doing their utmost to prevent further spreading of it. - Name and address supplied.

FAIR PLAY

WHAT a sour lot some of your letter writers are.

The contest is over. On June 7, Tony Blair won the General Election with an overwhelming majority. As the leader of the Labour Party, he visited the Queen who appointed him her Prime Minister for the next Parliamentary period of four or five years.

He has appointed the members of his Cabinet and also filled all the junior ministerial posts. The party is ready to carry on its task to improve the public services in this country as its manifesto set out.

It is an insult, both to a legally and democratically-elected leader of the Government in this country and to the Queen, to talk of Tony Blair and his cronies instead of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, appointed by the Queen.

Englishmen used to be proud of their sense of fair play, the notion to let the best man win.

Let a more positive attitude to a fairly-elected leader prevail on The Northern Echo pages.

As for the long-delayed pay rise by the Government for all ministers, Mr Blair received £47,000 and not £50,000, as the tabloids blurted out. He and his colleagues had refrained from accepting this rise during their first term in government.

Compare company executives' pay with what our Prime Minister receives and you will see that he is very modestly rewarded for his responsibilities towards us 50 million citizens. - EM Whittaker, Richmond.