JULY 11 was a hugely momentous occasion in the history of Stile Common.

The “Primrose Hill Free Treat” was resurrected in the form of the “Stile Common Treat” and what a treat it was!

Hundreds of young and not so young people enjoyed a bouncy castle, a barbecue, a brass band, street dancing, the list goes on forever!

Former pupils and staff travelled from all over the country and took the opportunity to have tours of the school. Memories were shared and friendships renewed.

Events such as these do not happen often and a huge amount of planning took place beforehand. Many, many thanks to everyone who helped in any way, shape or form. Special thanks MUST go to Jill Mellor, the Learning Mentor at Stile Common Infant and Nursery School, who masterminded the whole project and ensured that the day really was a fitting end to the life of school at Stile Common for everyone.

MRS D HORTON

Head Teacher

Help for young people

THE past three months have seen a young person become unemployed nearly every minute – 46,300 young people are now claiming Job Seekers Allowance across Yorkshire and The Humber, costing the state more than £2.3m a week.

The figures are shocking and the message is clear; we must help young people across our region into jobs, or risk them becoming a lost generation.

The long term costs of failing to give our region’s disadvantaged youngsters a helping hand at the time when many of them need it most will also be counted in wasted human potential as well as in monetary terms.

This year, the Prince’s Trust will help more than 3,500 unemployed young people across Yorkshire and Humberside gain the skills, confidence and motivation to find a job. Last year, more than eight in 10 14- to 30-year-olds offered a second chance by the trust went into work, training or education.

Now, more than ever, we must pull together and give young people the best chance of weathering this economic storm or risk untold damage to our region’s prosperity.

PETER BRANSON

Yorkshire Director for the Prince’s Trust

Trouble with our town

WHAT on earth is happening to Huddersfield? Who is running our council?

Don’t they realise we don’t want anymore takeaways or kebab shops? There are enough obese people about.

And then there’s St George’s Square. What an absolute waste of money, creating complete chaos and it doesn’t look any different.

I can’t imagine why we need all the taxis that cause even more chaos in the town centre. It’s quicker to walk home than catch a bus in the town centre.

Let’s have Huddersfield back as it was. Decent shops, fewer takeaways and fewer taxis. No wonder people are shopping out of town.

A VERY ANNOYED TAXPAYER

Huddersfield

Castle Hill costs

SO a Kirklees councillor has expressed a need for the council to take ownership of Castle Hill site (Examiner, Page 5).

Could I ask Clr Christine Stanfield how much this would cost hardworking tax payers?

Let’s face it, if Kirklees planning department had been doing a proper job and kept an eye on the Thandi Partnership and what they were doing in 1998 this farce would not had happened.

This so-called Kirklees Council seem to be following in the footsteps of the Government, one expensive farce after another.

No wonder Joe Public has stopped going to vote. Kirklees Council has turned into a monster.

MIKE WARREN-MADDEN

Crackpot Cottage

Museum’s a must

RECENT letters to the Examiner regarding a museum for Huddersfield are certainly creating food for thought among my friends.

We also visited the Civic Society exhibition at Neaversons and it left us all wondering why we don’t have a central location that shows the history of the area.

John Avison’s excellent features about the past and Memory Lane show, by the amount of correspondence and photos that he receives, that people are interested in the history of the town and its people.

I too think that the Co-op building would make a superb venue. Every time I walk past and see the empty windows and dilapidated nightclub signs it makes me shudder to think what the good and the great who built it would think if they saw it now in such a sorry state.

So, yes, a museum for Huddersfield is a great idea. The sooner the better.

DIANE THWAITES

Linthwaite

Great health care

I WANTED to publicly thank all the staff at St Luke’s hospital who recently helped me during my stay on Ward 3, a psychiatric ward.

I would like to mention all the teams involved with what seems to me to be a steadily improving service. Their dedication and professionalism in a difficult field is to he highly commended.

These include psychiatric nurses, psychiatrists, the crisis team, occupational therapists, community social workers, community psychiatric nurses, cleaners, pharmacists, blood collection nurses and everyone else involved in mental health care there.

I have noticed continuous improvement to a high standard in general attitude towards patients, availability to patients’ needs, knowledge of their subjects, skill in their particular field and general common sense.

The system runs like a well-oiled machine which is constantly being more and more finely tuned. For the many people living in Huddersfield who use their facility it is nice to know you are in good hands and can build up confidence and trust in them.

With it being local comes practical advantages and a comforting familiarity, eg ease of visitors to get there. The physical features of the ward are also improving to a high standard, eg your own bedroom.

There are rumours that they may have to close. I must admit that I don’t know all the pros and cons of this decision, but I for one would think it a great shame to break up this ‘Premiership Team’.

A PATIENT

Huddersfield

Castle Hill’s future

I WROTE a few months ago concerning the development of Castle Hill and after reading the Examiner was delighted to see that it might not be as perilous as I had thought.

I sincerely hope that the suggestions made regarding the future of Castle Hill are dealt with seriously.

The site ownership should be taken back on behalf of the people of Huddersfield and its development done for their benefit, removing any ability for recklessness if left in the hands of potential private developers.

Without doubt a visitor centre with educational facilities and vantage points to take in the superb views must be the only sensible option – maybe not a money-spinner but certainly one with integrity.

At this time, it appears that decisions made by one party or another to protect or remove public facilities are constantly contested and contradicted. Let’s hope that now there appears to be serious discussion about the future of this celebrated landmark, it does not become another casualty of internal political feuding and we squander this opportunity.

DENNIS LUMB

Almondbury

Military memories

REGARDING your photo of the two soldiers Pte Frank Haigh and Pte Jack Elstone.

Pte Elstone incidentally was my father. He was 20 years old and not 43, as stated and sadly passed away on January 3, 1985.

ROBERT ELSTONE

Dalton

Child protection

FOLLOWING recently criticised moves to require the vetting of adults who merely come into supervised contact with children, it really is time that the Government bit the bullet over child protection.

As it is widely acknowledged that the majority of child abuse occurs in the familial home, potential parents should have to obtain full disclosure certificates for themselves and their immediate circle of relatives and friends before being allowed to parent children.

If they attempt to circumvent these procedures, appropriate medical steps could be taken.

Of course, the poor should not have to pay for these certificates.

But it would amount to a tax on the middle classes which could be invested to fund further child protection measures.

If it saved one child it would be worth it!

JOHN EOIN DOUGLAS

By email

Watch for meningitis

WE at the Meningitis Trust are urging everybody not to mistake the signs and symptoms of meningitis with that of swine flu.

Whilst they can both start out with common flu-like symptoms, differentiating them can be potentially life-saving as meningitis can strike in minutes and kill within hours.

Symptoms can appear together and some may not appear at all.

They include fever, headache, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights, drowsiness, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and confusion.

In babies, an unusual cry, dislike of being handled and refusing feeds are also signs.

For more details, call our freephone 24-hour nurse-led helpline on 0800 028 18 28 or visit our website at www.meningitis-trust.org

You can also visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

BRIDIE TAYLOR

Services and Education Director