I, LIKE many others, am really saddened to read about Deric Longden’s illness.

I met Deric on many occasions around the shops of Marsh. He was a true gentleman.

On one occasion he asked me the name of my neurotic springer spaniel.

When I answered D H Lawrence he was bemused to say the least. His play Lost for Words was sheer brilliance.

Thinking of you both.

Linda Tierney

Salendine Nook

Deric lifted my spirits

JUST read about Deric Longden in the Examiner. So sorry to hear about his illness.

A few years ago when I wasn’t very well I read one of his books.

It made me laugh so much I read the rest of them and I have to say when I wrote and told him he replied and said he was glad I was feeling better after I had enjoyed his superb sense of humour.

I wish him all the best and hope he has lots more time left.

Mrs Gaynor Clegg

Ravensthorpe

Hands off the Hill

ENOUGH! Leave the hill alone.

Brian Lawrence

Golcar

I’m backing Barry

MAY I give 100% support to Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman for his excellent article in the Examiner regarding Castle Hill.

I agree with his every word. It would be totally illogical for the council to grant permission to build on Castle Hill while at the same time supporting a detailed archaeological investigation of the whole site. The future of Castle Hill is not just a local issue.

The site is important enough to be discussed at national level. In the meantime the hill should be left untouched.

S W Roebuck

Newsome

Give more to charity

GETTING on for a century now I have known the Yorkshire advice to his son to be:

Hear all, see all, say nowt.

Eyt all, sup all, pay nowt

And if ivver thy does owt for nowt

Alis do it for thisen

This advice has evidently been taken well to heart.

Recent figures on charitable giving show that the north east, which has the lowest salaries and highest unemployment rate gave most, while Yorkshire and the West Midlands gave least.

P Charlesworth

Huddersfield

A wrong message

IN REFERENCE to the Chris West letter (Examiner, December 15).

How can he suggest that the latest vision for Castle Hill would have a “minimal impact on the most prominent skyline site in our area’’?

He obviously needs glasses if he saw the published picture.

I am rather dismayed and disappointed in the conduct of our councillors on this issue, past and present.

There is not council in the entire country, perhaps the world, that has ever plonked a pub next to an ancient monument!

The previous council managed to allow a golf club and bar to be placed on our Roman Fort at Outlane, thus denying access to the general public.

Are the people of Huddersfield to let history repeat itself?

What legacy do we leave behind to future generations?

I would rather suggest that the legacy we leave behind is that it is OK to site pubs in ancient monuments, not once but perhaps twice.

Disappointed

Huddersfield

Town on right track

AS we reach the busy Christmas fixtures and are nearly halfway thorough the season it seems an appropriate time to take stock of the achievements of the team that Messrs Hoyle and Grayson have provided the supporters with.

I believe it fair to say we are in about the correct league position at this stage and that we currently have somewhere between seven and nine capable players for this division.

Consolidation is the name of the game for this and possibly next season, though I firmly believe our management team has set us upon the right track.

We now need to gradually shed some of the Lee Clark bought players and replace them with players with more quality for this division.

A central defender, central midfielder, full-back and a further permanent striker would make us a more consistent force when faced with injuries and suspensions and though it pains me to say it an additional goalkeeper to at least put pressure on, if not replace the current keeper.

Wishing everyone at the club a prosperous New Year.

J Leach

Marsden

All I want for Christmas

WHAT a wonderful idea – a device which clears away traffic queues and ensures all lights are green for your journey.

Intended for fire engines initially – but please can I have one? Merry Christmas.

Arthur Quarmby

Holme

Plea for foster families

WITH Christmas on us and most of us thinking about the time we will be spending with our families I’m reminded of the desperate shortage of foster carers and adopters across the UK.

As a fostering and adoption agency, Barnardo’s has been placing children in loving and secure homes across Yorkshire for over 30 years.

But more foster carers and adopters are desperately needed.

You may be surprised to hear that across Yorkshire there are currently 400 children who need to find their ‘forever family’ and be adopted in 2013. And it is estimated we need 750 more foster carers in Yorkshire alone.

There is sometimes a misconception about who can foster and adopt. You can be single, married, divorced or living with someone and be any sexuality, race or religion.

What you do need is commitment, lots of energy and patience as well as being able to offer a child a loving and secure home with their own room.

We are particularly looking for people who can care for sibling groups, black and minority ethnic children, disabled children and those with challenging behaviour.

So please, if you’re thinking about the possibility of changing a child’s life forever in 2013, visit our website www.barnardos.org.uk/adoptionandfostering or give our friendly team in Yorkshire a call for an informal chat on 0870 240 8342.

With best wishes for the festive season.

Dot Jarvis

Assistant Director, Barnardo’s Yorkshire