30/07/05

This must be truly distressing to the teacher who has offered an apology after 'losing it' a bit in relation to the youngster who, the report mentions, had disrupted lessons on several occasions.

It might be that sometimes parents can respond to situations with misguided loyalty to their child or possibly see things as actually a criticism of themselves, and subsequently end up themselves 'losing it' instead of acting with good grace.

They should resolve to ensure their child never causes disruption again and always be ready to accept personal responsibility if he does.

This should have been a case where the boy should have been helped by his parents to put the matter behind him, instead of them stirring things. It looks like another sad case which shows how hard a teacher's job can be made to be.

I am not a teacher but volunteer myself for involvement in Sunday school and youth clubs and know just how hard things can be to deal with even in the short sessions devoted to these activities. - C Holliday, West Auckland.

ASYLUM SEEKERS: I'M afraid that Mr Blair and his Government have to take a lot of the responsibility on their heads for the bombings in London.

Apart from the appalling war in Iraq, this Government, for the last five or six years, has allowed an uncontrolled invasion of this country by asylum seekers.

We have got murderers, gangsters, drug dealers, prostitutes and, on top of that, this country is a haven for terrorists.

Mr Blair has allowed them in this country and the British people have to suffer for it.

We have half a million failed asylum seekers and they are still here. We must return them to their own countries. - A Parker, Bishop Auckland.

COURAGEOUS JACQUI: A STORY of determination, strength, courage despite difficult circumstances and love has finally come to an end with the sad departure of Jacqui Herlingshaw - a much loved mother and wife, a dedicated chair of governors, a valuable helper to Topline and a well respected member of the community.

Her death has brought much sadness to those around her but also great strength in the way that she bravely fought 'the Big C'. She braved on despite setbacks for so long and finally lost her fight. It is, however, with great pleasure that I write this letter.

For, at this time, I have been overwhelmed by the support of so many that it has made me appreciate the value of friends and family. The cards through the door, now approaching 200, have shown how far the love Jacqui had for everyone has reached. The care given to her and the way in which staff said 'that she was an inspiration' shows her great positive attitude to others while she was in Teesside Hospice.

The way in which the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches worked to put together a funeral service attended by over 400 people which celebrated her life in such a positive way or, indeed, the fact that St Peter's Secondary School closed its doors as a mark of respect, or the fact that youngsters from Topline, including my daughter, prepared for, and sang at her funeral with great energy and enthusiasm, all showed the respect for her and the love that she had shared with everyone else. It was indeed a wonderful final thanksgiving for her life. She was an inspiration to all and will be missed by everyone.

And so, at this difficult time, can I say thank you to the local community, schools, Teesside Hospice, the Rev Bruce Harrison and Father Dominic, the local media for their positive coverage, and of course, to friends and family for the support given and also for raising almost £1,500 for Teesside Hospice in collections.

This will also be enhanced by a concert to celebrate Jacqui's life in September 2005 raising money for this wonderful hospice.

Thank you. - Robbie Herlingshaw, Middlesbrough.

GOOD LUCK:MAY I take this opportunity in wishing Darlington FC all the very best in the coming season.

David Hodgson seems to be assembling a squad that could be capable of pushing for promotion again.

And with the experienced players mixing in with the younger ones and potential new arrivals, I can see the Quakers mounting a serious promotion campaign. Darlington FC have come a long way during the last year or so and the chairman, Stewart Davies, and David Hodgson must be applauded for all their hard work.

I hope that the crowds will increase this season, and I am sure they will, once they realise that the club has serious plans for the future. Good luck, chaps.

We are all behind you. - Christopher Wardell, Darlington.

LINDISFARNE GOSPELS: I AM a mature art student in the process of gathering information for my dissertation and wondered if I could utilise your letters page to make a plea to your readership.

The intention of the dissertation is to consider whether or not the Lindisfarne Gospels should be repatriated to the North-East.

Due to the subject matter I would greatly appreciate it if readers, who may hold a view regarding this question, would be willing to assist me in this task by writing and informing me of their opinions. Please send replies to:

dm. fishburn@virgin. net I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your attention. - M Fishburn.

FAMINE WARNINGS: I HAVE just seen pictures on television of the famine and starvation in Niger.

The news report told of how this famine was forewarned, but there was not sufficient response from the rich nations of the world at the right time.

I was very tempted to write to our MEP and ask that the European Union sets up a working group constantly to monitor famine or potential famine worldwide and to advise the governments of the EU member states at the earliest opportunity where a famine or other circumstance of need is about to occur.

But what good will this do? We already have the UN which does this, and the rich nations of the world didn't listen to them when they forewarned of a famine in Niger. Is it anyone's job I ask, to investigate why these warnings of famine in Niger weren't heeded at the right time, to name those responsible for not heeding the UN's warning when they could and should have?

It is over 20 years since Sir Bob Geldof brought the world's attention to the need to alleviate starvation in countries hit by famine and it is high time that the rich nations of the world got it right. - Jeremy Whiting, Great Lumley.