AS we approach the start of the new shooting season I would like to remind readers why August 12 is anything but “glorious.”

In recent weeks we have had a barrage of stories with headlines such as “Estates blamed for killing hen harriers”, “Gamekeepers ‘are killing harriers’” and “Gamekeepers accused” in regard to the massive surge in attacks on birds of prey.

Only last month the RSPB warned that hen harriers are being systematically wiped out on grouse moors to protect the profits made by the owners of shooting estates and syndicates. How an earth can an industry which depends on the mass slaughter of wildlife for entertainment purposes be thought ‘glorious’? ‘Barbaric’ or perhaps ‘immoral’ would seem more appropriate terms.

In the coming days the apologists for this barbaric ‘sport’ will attempt to spin the lie that shooting is all about healthy, organic food. Nothing could be further from the truth with only a tiny proportion of game birds making their way on to the dinner table.

So, as we approach the start of another grouse shooting season it is worth taking a few moments to think about the less than glorious aspects which go on behind the scenes to sustain our commercial shooting industry.

John Cooper

Chairman, League Against Cruel Sports

Hurray for Tesco

AFTER reading all the anti Tesco letters I wonder how many of these people actually shop at Tesco. I have shopped there since they took over from Hillards.

I even attended a gathering at the George Hotel for selected customers, where we could ask questions of Tesco management.I do not remember any other supermarket doing this.

I also do not remember all this hue and cry when Asda, Sainsbury's’, Morrisons, and soon Aldi supermarkets were built.

Is there something I have missed because I cannot wait for the new one to open.

One of the most debated points at the George Hotel gathering was the car park, I am sure the new Tesco would take care of this.

DC

Salendine Nook.

Don’t close post office

THE imminent threat of closure of Quarmby post office is clear evidence of how Quarmby is treated with contempt by so-called political representatives. There is a clear parallel in how Mikhail Gorbachev treated Chechnya.

In reality, Quarmby is the ‘Chechnya’ of Kirklees. Michael and his family have put in so much hard work and dedication to make Quarmby post office such a success. Yet anyone here in Quarmby is rewarded by a slap in the face by politicians who do not even live within the village.

There are many who are disabled, or suffer from heart conditions, who just cannot walk down to either Paddock, or Marsh post offices. Here, there is not an adequate bus service to take us to an alternative post office. All that would be left in Quarmby will be the Londis store and the Field Head pub.

It is an abomination that our political representatives are actually resident within Lindley, and have no idea of what we want in Quarmby. We do not want to be ruled by outside influence. Quarmby is of a size to be a ward in itself on Kirklees Council with our own political representatives, standing up for Quarmby’s interests.

alan j robinson

Quarmby

Bring back matron

BUREAUCRATS are ruining this country. League tables have been introduced at great cost and to prove what? Figures can be manipulated. In hospitals there is a manager on every ward, plus highly paid executives for every department. The old type matron did the lot, she would never have tolerated mixed wards.

Many villages had a police station manned by a sergeant, along with half a dozen constables, treading the beat. We saw little of any litter or vandalism, children respected the police. Children at school were taught respect and discipline, as they were at home by their parents.

jack lockwood

Honley

We’re being short changed

THE residents of Fenay Lea Drive, Waterloo, have long been short changed by Kirklees Council over the years. They simply aren’t interested in this area. Gutters are riddled with clumps of grass which don’t allow water to run down, drains are never cleaned, there are cracked and sunken footpaths in places.

There is little wonder people are fed up with MPs and councillors – they aren’t worth paying.

as

Waterloo

Bag for life - who you kidding?

SO I’m all set to help the planet, cut out plastic bags and buy a bag for life, a canvas one.

Off I go to Scarborough on a day trip, buy three nice birthday cards, two magazines, two nighties and some slippers and place them in my new bag for life.

It pours down with rain, I arrive home to realise bag is not waterproof, magazines and cards etc wet through and ruined. At this moment I am thinking perhaps a plastic bag was a wonderful and useful invention.

AR

Skelmanthorpe

Thanks to hospital

I WOULD just like to thank the doctors and nurses and staff on Ward 8 at the Infirmary for all the care and kindless shown to me while I was there for a week. They are all wonderful, dedicated people and worth their weight in gold.

eddie sykes

Slaithwaite

Fuel prices are criminal

THE huge increases in fuel prices will leave many families out in the cold this winter. The comment by Centrica’s boss to put on another jumper to combat the cold just shows how out of touch these arrogant people are.

There is a way to get round this problem where you can get heating and food and as much leisure time you want with no rent or rates to pay – and they even give you a small wage as well.

No it’s not a Butlins holiday, although this place has been linked to it. Of course, the penny has now dropped! It’s our prison system, if you commit a crime, nothing violent, and you get an 18 month prison sentence. As the system now works you will only serve six months to tide you over the winter.

MPs should hang their heads in shame to allow our energy needs to be dictated to by foreign companies. Hang on! Spare a thought for our MPs – they have two homes to keep warm this winter.

brass monkey

Dalton

Museum hopes

LAST month the Trustees of Colne Valley Museum had a very encouraging meeting with the Colne Valley Area Committee, who suggested a variety of ways forward to enable the museum to ‘Realise the Dream’ of buying the end cottage of the row Spring Rock, thus completing the row of cottages which house the museum.

As a result of this, as Examiner readers will know, Kirklees Council awarded Colne Valley Museum £60,000 towards this project and the trustees are now calling on our supporters who pledged money towards the Realise The Dream Appeal to honour their pledges.

Nearly £40,000 has been pledged towards this project by museum members and supporters, local businesses and people of the Colne Valley, which is an amazing amount.

We are now contacting all our supporters to send in the promised money as soon as possible so we can complete the next step towards purchasing the end cottage and shop.

Cheques should be made payable to Colne Valley Museum and sent to John Daker, Colne Valley Museum, Cliffe Ash, Golcar, Huddersfield. HD7 4PY.

Of course, if anyone else would like to contribute they can contact the museum at the above address or visit when it is open Saturdays and Sundays from 2—5pm. They can also telephone 01484 659762 (answer machine).

Anne Lord

Publicity Officer Colne Valley Museum, Golcar

Taste of honey

RACHEL MEACHEN isn’t the only one with a proud school attendance record (“Twin who never missed a day at school” Examiner August 6).

I started school, aged four, at St Peter’s Huddersfield Parish Church School in 1932 and left in 1946, never having had a day off school.

I put my good health down to healthy eating. There were no pies and sausages on our table at home but plenty vegetables and honey. I’m 80 now and still eat a pound of honey a week.

Gloria Gill

Lepton

Match mix-up

SPECTATORS at Wednesday’s Centenary match between Huddersfield Town and Arsenal, were charged £5 for the souvenir match day programme.

It’s a pity that more wasn’t done to ensure that the numbers allocated to the players matched those in the programme.

I am sure that the youngsters attending the match would be extremely disappointed to be unable to identify the players.

Harold Laycock

Mirfield

More heat than light

EIGHTEEN solar panels in a local hospital (Weekly News August 5) will reduce its carbon footprint but what about the production and disposal of these panels – does the total saving in use far outweigh the carbon generated during the panels manufacture and eventual disposal?

Since we are not given any measure of performance in the article I am also interested in how a month of the solar panels in action compares to total emissions, or even a month of local driving by a NHS manager. Some footprints are likely to be deeper than others.

Garfi