THE altercation between Cabinet Minister Andrew Mitchell and the police, who prevented him from cycling through the gates of Downing Street has prompted outrage at his alleged use of certain words.

I see that we now have another word which seems to cause offence. The word plebeian is a perfectly acceptable word, being based on the Latin word for the common man.

Actually, I am quite fond of the word plebeian. It is used in a very clever line from the song, Cry Me a River and goes ‘told me love was too plebeian, said that you were through with me ...’

Will they now have to alter the lyrics?

Elsie M Eva

Lepton

Bring them home

I NEVER thought it would happen but I find myself agreeing with George Galloway MP.

We must withdraw promptly from Afghanistan. It is sad that so many lives have been wasted in this futile and naive attempt to bring democracy to this barren, lawless land.

But is it sensible to risk yet more of our soldiers? To face mutilation or death and for what? A faraway country of which we know little and care less.

Barry Fowler

Huddersfield

Thank you, ladies

I WOULD like to thank Lynne Burton who works in Tesco chemist for handing to the customer services my envelope which I left on the counter after buying medication for my massive throat infection.

The envelope contained a considerable amount of money and very valuable photographs, including Derwent Church spike sticking above Ladybower Water which was blown down in 1949, 45 published letters from various papers and an Examiner article with my phone number in it from which quick-witted Anita Gerrard in the customer services contacted me before I realised it was missing.

I had just opened the front door when the phone rang. I am very grateful to them.

Actions like that restores faith in humanity which is very much needed in today’s atmosphere of crimes and greed.

Tony Sosna

Huddersfield

Sun gives us life itself

SITTING OUT in the garden the other day taking in the beautiful September sunshine – not that I want a short-lived tan but more to gain the goodness the sun provides to bolster me up to face my winter – I thought about the sun.

Without that one object 93 million miles away and almost a million miles across it takes a mere eight minutes from source to reach us and so provides all life on earth and showing all of us our way. I am in awe of the one and only certainty in life, our constant dependance on that intrinsic object, our sun.

Without our sun all would be darkness, the moon and the planets would lose their glow, only distant suns in other galaxies would shine and be viable to a lifeless earth, some, I suspect, shining down on earth equivalent in some distant galaxy in some cases with their own forms of life and its problems.

It makes me wonder how many groups or individuals cannot take what they see as fact and that in time our earth will be unhabitable. After using up all the non-renewable resources we will be extinct long before the sun goes down for the last time.

We should all of us realise this and make the most of our short lives here to do good and not dwell too much on an assumption that we get a second chance in a human imagined utopia “an after life”.

As Nobel Prize winner in Physics (1979) Steven Weinberg stated: “Religion is an insult to human dignity. Without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things, but for good people to do evil things it takes religion.”

At election time candidates lead us to believe they know all the answers but once elected they, along with the unelected Lords and Clergy, appear not to even understand the question.

They all seem to disregard the lessons of the past.

We are all ignorant of the future, but they seem to believe that the mayhem we see today can be rectified without a total re-assessment destiny.

Les Sandford

Lepton

Exchange of views

I REFER to Mailbag (September 12) and a letter by Mr David Gill, of Lascelles Hall, suggesting that I have a blinkered view, via my comment “Once you’ve seen it etc”.

I was referring to actually visiting the Tower on Castle Hill itself, but omitted to say so.

The landmark is there for all to see for miles around, it is part of the history of this area, an area I enjoy being a resident of.

On my comment regarding the potential for excellent cuisine it was a presumption, which I am sure would be borne out should such facilities come to pass.

To bring Stonehenge into the equation is somewhat far fetched as no way does Stonehenge equate to Castle Hill.

If the pub was rebuilt it would not be visible until you actually visited the hill itself and in the mail by the taxi owners of Huddersfield, (same date as Mr Gill’s letter), the pub was a prime tourist attraction bringing visitors to the pub and income from fares and those who were involved with manning the hotel.

As for Mr Gill’s comments I visited the pub many times before I even become a resident in the area.

For some 30 years it was recommended to me and I took friends there for an evening pint. They didn’t know the place existed until then but said afterwards it was definitely on their itinerary for an evening out in the future.

There will always be those for and those against a rebuild, that is what democracy is all about, a sharing of different views, I subscribe to the FOR.

David Bull

Skelmanthorpe

Classes to remember

THE University of the Third Age (U3A) as stated in the Examiner a few days ago holds many classes for older people run by volunteers.

For many years I have had the pleasure of attending the Remember When classes. It was run by Peter Hinchliffe when I joined and then more recently by Peggy McKay.

Unfortunately, the class has had to be cancelled this year. I wish to thank Peter and Peggy for holding the classes of Remember When and for the company of other people attending the classes.

I wonder if anyone could take over the running of the class of Remember When in the future. It can be enjoyable, entertaining and informative to remember the pasts.

Brenda Hellawell

Reinwood

Vital views

THE Government is planning changes to the way new medicines are priced across the country.

These changes are likely to have a significant impact on millions of people living with cancer throughout the UK.

It is vitally important that the views of people with cancer are put at the heart of this new system.

Prostate Cancer UK is concerned that the Government has not done enough to involve people with cancer in the development of the new arrangements. We are determined to change this.

We urgently need people affected by all types of cancer to tell us why new medicines are valuable to them. We will present these views to the Government to ensure the voice of people with cancer is heard loud and clear.

As someone who has had cancer I know how vital it is that effective medicines that make the biggest difference to people with cancer are approved for use on the NHS in all parts of the UK.

Please take part in our short survey now to help deliver this outcome.

Visit www.prostatecanceruk.org/valuebasedpricing or call 020 8563 3909 (Closes 1 October).

Stuart Watson

Patient Representative, Prostate Cancer UK