Letters

I WONDER if any of your readers can help. I have just completed my personal memories of growing up in Darlington between 1940 and 1955 and I wondered if anyone has any photographs taken during that period. Snapshot or events in the town would be most useful.

I would particularly like information, literature or documents relating to happenings in Darlington, particularly in the town centre, Skinnergate, Duke Street, Abbey Road, Outram Street, Larchfield Street, the South Park and Stanhope Road.

The lack of photographs is holding up publication. Any used will be acknowledged in the book and all sent to me will be returned safely. - Allene Norris, 80 Elton Road, Darlington, DL3 8LU.

HOSPITAL CARE

WHILE on holiday in Bishop Auckland I was taken ill. My brother, with whom I was staying, immediately called for an ambulance. This arrived within ten minutes. I was admitted to Bishop Auckland General Hospital within another ten minutes, the paramedic having diagnosed what was wrong with me, which turned out to be correct.

I was in the accident and emergency department for 25 minutes with X-ray, blood samples, ECG, blood pressure checks all done. I was then moved to the assessment ward for further checks.

To cut a long story short, I have been in hospitals all over the world and I cannot believe the care and efficiency of these people.

May I take this opportunity to thank the doctors, paramedics and all staff of Bishop Auckland General Hospital for the excellent care taken, especially wards seven and 12, in my hour of need. - J Jackson, Ampthill, Beds.

COUNCILLORS

ONCE it was an honour to serve on the local council, now it is big business. Having achieved this, not through hard work but by the gift of the gab and rash promises, some people would like published the background of these good, hard-working Labour councillors and also their claims for expenses. - T Thompson, Coxhoe.

HOME TRUTHS

"AN Englishman's home is his castle" used to be the well-known saying. Not any more, since the criminal is afforded more help from the authorities nowadays than the victim.

An occupier of his own home may be awakened by a thief, and if the thief is disturbed then the occupier's life may be in danger from the criminal. In a recent case a burglar with a long criminal record was found in someone else's property, intending to steal from the owner, and was killed. Now the relatives want compensation. One wonders what would have been the outcome if the positions had been reversed? What compensation could the criminal pay the victim? - E Reynolds, Wheatley Hill.

GREAT BRITAIN

TONY Blair will be remembered as the Prime Minister who has taken the Great out of Britain and I, like thousands of voters who gave him their votes at the last election, hope and pray for a referendum before we are sunk forever by this plausible manipulator who doesn't know or care what democracy means.

The majority of people do not want the euro, would like to be out of Europe, do not want homosexuality to be brought into schools, do not want Section 28 abolished, do not want to see local councils holding secret cabinet meetings, not allowing the public or the local press to attend.

Hurry up, let's have that referendum and election.

I believe a lot of Labour MPs will be out of a job. - F Wealands, Darlington.

DRIVERS

ALL too frequently I come across parked lorries, buses, taxis and cars, usually with driver at the wheel, but with engines running, producing exhaust fumes.

Would anyone tell me why drivers do this since it uses expensive fuel, creates distasteful odours and causes unnecessary pollution? - Malcolm Dunstone, Darlington.

DIY SHOW

TYNE Tees Television is searching for the stars of the second series of The Real DIY Show.

Are you mad on DIY? Are you a keen amateur with some degree of success? Would you like to appear on TV? If the answer is yes to all these questions then the producers would like to hear from you.

We are looking for non-professional DIYers who have completed projects in their own homes and would be prepared to show our team how it's done.

Tell us about your DIY strengths and weaknesses.

Please send photographs of your work and yourself to - The Real DIY Show, PO Box 1AL, Newcastle upon Tyne NE99 1AL.

MONEY MEN

I QUOTE from Peter Mullen's column (Echo, Aug 1): "The Honorable Association of Blackmailers and Extortionists might make me chaplain."

I was under the impression that he already had that job in the City, administering spiritual guidance to the boys in red braces. I think that long long ago another gentleman intent on spiritual guidance went in among his flock with a whip - money changers they were called in those days. - Willis Collinson, Durham.

RAF SELETAR

I SPENT some of my happiest years with the Royal Air Force based at Seletar in Singapore, one of the most colourful and historic of the RAF's overseas bases.

RAF Seletar closed in 1971 but is remembered with affection by members of the RAF Seletar Association which was formed in 1997 to bring together ex-RAF and other service and civilian personnel who served on the station between the years 1928 to 1971.

If any of your readers were stationed at Seletar and wish to contact old friends and acquaintances the Association may be able to help. - David Taylor, 35 Lower Darnborough Street, Clementhorpe, York Y023 1AR. dtaylorht into schools, do not