I WRITE in response to the views of ‘School Governor’ (Mailbag, May 4) and Vanessa Mallalieu (May 5).
I feel that their opinion on the matter of pupil Paige Wignall’s family wanting to take her out of school during term time is a little unfair.
They are quite openly critical, but has anyone thought of what a positive contribution it may have to Paige’s education, such as the different culture, language and currency?
OK, so perhaps it’s not essential that a holiday should be taken during term time, but 10 days of missed school is not the end of the world is it when you look at the broader spectrum of things such as truancy and children that are excluded from school for days?
Name and address supplied
Huddersfield
Shirt disappointment
HOW fantastic it was to see the photos of the party atmosphere and the sea of blue and white stripes from the recent Town v Colchester game.
However I’m afraid you were wrong to say ‘every home supporter was given a free T-shirt at Saturday’s game’ as this was not the case.
My husband, daughter and their friends are season ticket holders and were looking forward to joining in the fun only to be disappointed when on arrival there were no T-Shirts for the fans in the lower tier of the Fantastic Media family stand.
They immediately complained to the stewards and, following the match, at the office. My husband has also written a letter to the club and we are awaiting a response. We look forward to receiving an explanation as to why so many loyal fans were left out!
SWL
Marsh
A billion between friends
IN VIEW of the magnitude of the national debt I thought your readers may be interested in this snippet of information sent to me from a friend in Wales.
The next time you hear politicians use the word billion, think about how you want them spending your tax money. A billion is a difficult number to comprehend so here is one way of putting that figure into some perspective:
a) A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
b) A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
c) A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
d) A billion days ago no one walked the earth on two feet.
d) A billion pounds ago was only 13 hours and 12 minutes at the rate our politicians spend.
Just one more point: is there anyone wondering if they’re suffering from deja vu when they see or hear Nick Clegg?
Terrific ego, young, good looking, smiling, affable, arm waving, with a lawyer wife. He’s a Tony Blair clone!
mrs d a holden
Greenhead
Noise on the move
MY friends and I are pleased something is being done about the noise we have to listen to while travelling in the buses (Examiner, April 27).
Conversations from mobile phones, music from Ipods. Even when they have earplugs in you can sometimes hear the music.
More should be done about cars blasting out their music. I have written to my MP about these issues as sometimes it’s a nightmare while travelling.
bus travellers
Berry Brow
Praise for NHS workers
TWICE in the last six weeks I have had the need to call on the emergency ambulance services. I would like to sing the praises of paramedics and hospital staff at both HRI and Leeds General Infirmary.
I have read many times how these services fail to meet targets, but in my personal opinion they are all wonderful and I wish to say a big thank you to all involved on the two occasions I needed them.
mrs j bakewell
Moldgreen
Morally repugnant
A REPEAL of the Hunting Act is clearly back on the political agenda.
Discussion on the topic has tended to focus on the arguments for and against fox hunting. What is not mentioned is that any repeal of the Hunting Act 2004 would bring back hare hunting and hare coursing as fully legal activities.
The sight and sound of two or more hounds or greyhounds pulling a screaming hare to pieces is surely not a spectacle that we want to return to.
The practice of setting dogs onto animals for sport is cruel and barbaric and should remain history. Turning the clock back to the cruelty of pre-ban hunting and coursing is morally repugnant.
douglas batchelorChief Executive, League Against Cruel Sports
Healthy opposition
THIS is in response to M B Fletcher and the letter about the new health database (Mailbag, April 29).
There is a box you can tick to ask for more information about the get-out clause if you want to. Admittedly it is well-hidden and I missed it twice myself.
It is in the reverse side of the leaflet asking if you want the information to be in another language, rather than English. It is at the very bottom of the leaflet, in small print.
mrs s gordon
Moldgreen
Thanks for generosity
A COFFEE day was held at my home for Cancer Research Yorkshire in memory of a very dear friend who died of cancer on November 2.
May I say a very big thank you to all my neighbours and friends from near and far who contributed so generously to make the day so successful. The day raised £1,015.
Thank you also to my friends who helped on the day, especially my niece Susan who spent so many hours with me sewing.
d allen
Cowlersley
Congratulations to club
CONGRATULATIONS to the players and officials of Shelley Football Club for an absolutely brilliant season that has put Shelley back on the footballing map.
Two championships coupled with the Groom Cup success is a great performance by anyone’s standards.
The first team went through the season without defeat, drawing just one match. Add to that for good measure the Reserves, who won their title with 11 points to spare, and then reached the Gee Cup final, only losing by the odd goal in three against Skelmanthorpe.
The crowning glory was lifting the Groom Cup in the most exciting manner in a penalty shoot-out.
The achievement was made even greater because, due to a small band of anti-sport minded people in the village who should be hanging their heads in shame, the teams had to play all their matches outside the village.
The success brings back memories of the last double of 49 years ago.
Bob Haigh
Shelley
Meltham road safety
FURTHER to the recent Examiner reports and letters from April 18 onwards, I feel now is the time for me to comment, having investigated the stretch of Meltham Road personally on five occasions this past week at various times of the day, in particular the Viaduct to Big Valley Garage section.
My interest lies in the fact that I used to live at No 83 for three years (1968/71) when it was very busy with traffic going to and from David Brown Tractors at Meltham and David Brown Gears at Lockwood. Since living in Meltham I have continued to use this route regularly.
I am a driver with nearly 50 years experience who, in my younger days, regularly clocked up 30/40,000 miles per annum as a salesman, covering many parts of the country, so I class myself as experienced and suitably qualified to comment.
On each of these five occasions, surprisingly given the lightness of traffic, I followed no-one who exceeded the 30mph limit.
Those parking on what I call ‘Cemetery Way’ appear in the main to park on the same side as each other and drivers, yes even bus drivers, seem to accept the situation at the times it becomes effectively one-way.
In my experience we now have so many lines, signs, bollards and ‘hangmen’ to contend with, concentration on actually driving is being impeded – and this applies just about everywhere, not just Meltham Road.
Knowing the road as I do, I am usually fully prepared and slowly enter the bend at the bottom of Netherton hill in case drivers coming in the opposite direction either cut the corner or, as has happened at times, cross over all the lines in order to avoid the parked cars on their way down from Netherton.
Where we live in Meltham was our choice, off the main road and at the end of a cul-de-sac, as was our decision to pay higher insurance costs for leaving a car overnight on the drive.
Perhaps rather than being so critical, any dissatisfied residents should take a more positive view and provide their own ideas on how to alter people’s perceptions. Actions speak louder than words!
Brian Irving
Meltham
Policy gone to pot
RIDING my bicycle to Lindley down Cowrakes hill is quite an obstacle course with the many potholes and the various speed humps.
A couple of weeks ago I noticed the road menders were out, but not fixing the potholes. They were putting in yet more speed humps! The effort and tarmac would have been better used in filling in a few holes.
Peter Charnley
Birkby
