Echoes from railways and secret caves

When I last visited the station there was, on the wall of what was by then the tea room, a plaque in his memory.

To add to my flood of memories, that article was followed by one where the photographs included Gaping Gill and the entrance to Bar Pot. They took me back 60 years and the early days of York Mountaineering Club.

Very occasionally, some of us would, for a change, go underground "just to see what these potholers get up to". I recollect that the first such exploration was Goyden Pot, a fascinating place – but a later one took us down Bar Pot and thence into the magnificent chamber of Gaping Gill.

One reason why that sticks in the memory of a nigh-on 83-year-old is that we met there a group of climbers we knew from elsewhere, this time in the guise of the Leeds University Speleological Society – who had not only descended by rope ladder, but one of their number was seeking to break the record for the ascent out again.

They offered to let us go out "their" way, but we politely demurred. Of course, all that fades into insignificance when compared with the exploits of today's potholers. Yes, an issue of Country Week to be treasured.

From: Ray Turner, Tiplady Close, Easingwold, York.

From: Christine Hardaker, Park Avenue, Thackley, Bradford.

I FELT I must take issue with Sarah Todd on a couple of points in her November 6 article. She states one should not let one's dog off the lead on a footpath, full stop. Well you can let your dog off the lead on a footpath, provided it is under close control, that's from the Countryside Code.

It does, however, say you must put your dog on a lead when near livestock and when in open country during March to July to protect ground-nesting birds.

I do have some sympathy though, as Sarah does seem to have met some badly- behaved dogs on her walkies. I believe though that many "vicious" dogs are created by their owners, when you see them hurriedly gathering their dogs up and hanging on to their leads when you approach instead of letting them socialise freely with their own species.

Grabbing hold of the lead tells the dog there must be some danger approaching and so it is immediately on guard. The dog will feel vulnerable and will defend its "family" from the perceived threat. I have been accused of having an out-of-control dog because she was off the lead and she admonished another for approaching her too quickly.

On the other hand, my dog trainer, who trains sniffer dogs for the Army, said he would choose my dog to socialise his puppies with because she is firm but fair in her disciplining. It sounds to us humans horrendously loud and vicious but there is no harm done and the pecking order is established quickly.

So perhaps I can recommend my dog trainer to Sarah so she can let Tetley off the lead without fear of him jumping up at anyone or running on too far ahead.

From: Pat Tomlinson, Elmsall Drive, Beverley.

As a daily reader of the Yorkshire Post, I particularly look forward to Saturday's issue when I immediately turn to the Country Week supplement and go straight to the weekly walk.

We have enjoyed many of these walks in the past, both in Yorkshire and Cumbria. This month alone, we have rambled from Wetherby, Harrogate, Wass and, only last week, St John's in the Vale.

All of these outings were enhanced by the clear instruction and helpful sketch map. Please keep them coming. How about a few more in our neck of the woods?

From: Pamela Z Frankland, Hull Road, Dunnington, York.

IF farmers were paid a decent price for their produce, subsidies would be a thing of the past. Last year, grain prices were the worst in years with barley around 75 per ton and wheat around 100 per ton. This year, 65 per cent plus of farmers had pre-sold wheat at 100-120, so why are related prices so high?

I suspect we producers are being used for the massive rise in fertilisers, sprays etc to offset the oil increases as usual. The same for wheat related products – bread, flour, cakes and biscuits to name a few. Wage increases have to be met with PAYE and the 20 per cent in VAT in the pipeline. The Single Farm Payment is necessary for all farmers, not just the hill farmers. Prices never go down to compensate for produce yo-yo-ing, do they?

We need stability, but when there is a surplus, prices fluctuate against us producers, we need a levelling out and should not be used to prop up other industries.

CW 20/11/10