COMMUNITY SUPPORT: WHEN the Tory government succeeded in closing all the mines, it also thought it had got rid of mining folk and their union, the NUM. Unfortunately for them, this has not happened.

Due to the continued representations of the Durham NUM, millions of pounds have been won in compensation for their members.

Also, thanks to huge community support, the Durham Miners' Gala gets bigger each year.

It will be a sad day when mining families need Lord Mackenzie, ex-Durham police superintendent, to represent them (Echo, Jan 19).

Before he embarks on his roadshow he needs to answer some fundamentals.

1. Who is funding his AGM?

2. What role did he play in helping miners during the 1984/5 strike?

3. What contribution did he give in the fight to get these new industrial diseases recognised in terms of compensation?

4. What has he tried to do to stop the Government taking 50 per cent of the miners pension scheme surpluses?

5. What success has he or his AGM had in representing mining families? - Barry Chambers, Blackhall.

CELEBRITY STATUS

THE profiles of celebrities should be something based on achievement, whether in sport, the arts, entertainment or politics. It also carries responsibility. Dame Kelly Holmes is a glowing example and there are those who richly deserve to be called celebrities.

But what is a celebrity?

The dictionary definition depicts a celebrity as a 'superstar, personality or icon'.

Celebrity status has taken on new dimensions. Greater media attention demands that celebrities are not static icons but someone like Kelly Holmes, David Seaman, Jordan or Katie Price, as she now likes to be known, Sharon Osbourne and David Beckham, who are prepared to put their reputation to the test.

So often the images of celebrity are sordidly outrageous. They want to gain publicity for all the wrong reasons. Kate Moss, Pete Doherty, Kerry Catona and George Galloway represent personalities who undermine, not promote, what is good of celebrity status.

It is true that many in the entertainment industry do sterling work for charity and are good role models. This is the right image to project and to follow. - Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe.

HAROLD WILSON

AS an ex-pat of Thornaby and at one time a great user of the Harold Wilson recreation ground, I would like to add my support to D Robinson (HAS, Feb 9) and his call for this so-called Labour council to be brought to task if a great facility like this is going to wrack and ruin.

In my day this was the top of the tree in the area, both in the sense of changing facilities and grounds. And for representatives of the town to just let it go is shocking. So yes, let's have some answers and fast. Let's see the heads roll if it is correct.

I also agree Harold Wilson should be remembered with something like this area because he was a man of the people, loved by the people, respected by the people, but mostly he realised without the people, you are nothing. Take heed Labour, especially in Thornaby. - R Jackson, Billingham.

BRITISH PINT

ALED Jones (HAS, Jan 26) wrote with great concern about the threat to the British pint "by the bureaucrats of Brussels".

I am so glad to be able to tell him the good news that our properly elected MEPs on February 2 voted for amendments to suggested new rules about food and drink packaging in the European Parliament, and the traditional British pint of milk was declared safe.

There should also be no required change in the packaging of wines, spirits or sugar. If beer is included, I do not know.

It is odd though that this country clings so hard to tradition. The use of metric measures was declared legal here by law in 1864 and The Board of Trade included the metric standards in 1897 for use in trade. That is 109 years ago.

Milk sold in litre bottles in supermarkets seems to be doing well.

So, how about a personal inquiry to your MEP about that 20 fl oz of beer? Will it after all be 0.57 litres or just "half a litre, please"? - E Whittaker, Richmond.

PARAGON OF PEACE

FREEDOM of speech has been used as a reason to excuse the publication of the insidious cartoon depicting the holy prophet Mohammed.

As a consequence, the Muslim world has been deeply offended as they regard the prophet as a spiritual father. The Koran, which Muslims believe to be the word of god, has described him as a "mercy for all of mankind".

Therefore, would any respectful person, regardless of their faith or creed, find it amusing and honourable to have someone they dearly love publicly ridiculed in such a way? Is an MP allowed to make derogatory remarks about another MP in the House of Commons without fearing any backlash from the Speaker?

As with all prophets of god, the holy prophet Mohammed was a paragon of peace and virtue and it is totally wrong and distorted to present him or any other prophet as something other than that.

Unfortunately, some so-called Muslim clerics and their cohorts are preaching hatred and violence. They do not represent the vast majority of Muslims throughout the world. What they espouse is the complete antithesis of the teachings of Islam, which directs all people to respect one another and to live in social harmony.

This is the desire of all true Muslims and I'm sure, the desire of all decent and honourable people throughout the world. - Bilal Atkinson, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, Hartlepool Branch.

THANK YOU

WE would like to say a public thank you to the South Tees Hospital NHS Trust and especially the James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough, for all the help received recently whilst Ken had a heart bypass operation and for the speed in which everything evolved.

We wish to say a very big thank you to Dr Phillip Casey and all at the Health Centre, Thirsk, Dr Somasundram and team at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton and especially to the surgeon, Mr Andrew Goodwin, doctors, nurses and all staff on wards 29, 31, 32, ICTU and the cardiology departments at the James Cook University Hospital at Middlesbrough for the wonderful care and attention they gave to Ken (John) in a very professional and efficient way, but in such a happy and cheerful manner - a real tonic in itself.

Ken would also like to thank all relatives and friends for the kindness shown to him during his illness.

We really cannot thank you all enough; we shall always be grateful. - (John) Ken and Linda Armstrong, Sessay, near Thirsk.