Cadets’ hopes dashed in cruel decision

I FEEL I must put pen to paper about the news of the termination of the Cranwell Cadets. What kind of people have we bred who can sit down and make such a decision – to wait until the eagerly awaited end was in sight – and then announce there will be no “passing out”.

If it had to be done, surely a few more weeks would have made no different to the monetary situation – and the cadets would have had their hard-earned qualifications to apply to other aspects of aviation.

We seem to have bred a generation – sans feeling, sans empathy, consideration for others – only instant gratification, money, holidays and pleasure.

We cannot sing Land of Hope and Glory any more, the words are no longer appropriate. Our towns are becoming ghost towns, shop fronts boarded up in favour of huge, glittering shopping malls, suitable for America’s great spaces – but not for our small country – putting temptation in front of gullible people wanting instant pleasure whether they can afford it or not.

I am nearing 90 years of age, and thus have seen many changes – in education and living standards. “Progress” is a much-maligned word; but it is not always for the good of civilisation, more for the pockets of some and the detriment of others.

To sum up for the Minister of Defence I quote: “Balance the rigidity of intellect with the fluidity of emotion.”

From: H Marjorie Gill, Clarence Drive, Menston.

SO many people are scornful of David Cameron’s idea for voluntary workers to do more. The heads of different organisations tell us that if funding ceases, this idea will not work. What nonsense all these people talk. Who funds the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides?

There are many church activities which don’t have funding, people just do the needful from a sense of duty or pride in doing what is needful. There are so many negative thinkers around. This is another barrier to making Britain great.

System you can bank on

From: Maxine Watt, Beeston, Leeds.

IF I were one of these council chiefs whose salaries your columnist Tom Richmond says should be performance-related (Yorkshire Post, February 19), I think I would be favouring a system akin to that employed by the banking sector.

The one where, despite you failing to foresee a worldwide crisis that is the real cause of today’s economic strife, despite you receiving vast subsidies from the Exchequer to prop up your business and despite your bank having to be underwritten by the Government with public money in case your incompetence or greed leads you to make exactly the same mistakes again, you still award yourself a huge bonus on top of your sky-high salary. And David Cameron explains away your mistakes by blaming the financial wasteland you have created on council workers.

They can’t go wrong and if they do, despite the Prime Minister being less likely to blame their woeful performance on someone else, they can carry on regardless.

Shocking way to treat elderly

From: Wendy Field, Spellowgate Close, Driffield.

What dreadful reports relating to the lack of care in hospitals and care homes (Yorkshire Post, February 17).

Elderly people were young once and the majority have given a lot to their country and deserve to be cared for with dignity and respect. What would those who are nursing the elderly feel if their grandparents or even parents needed special care and had to suffer such indignities?

I always believed that nursing was a vocation and a privilege.

I do know and have experienced excellent nurses who were very caring and dedicated to their profession. Perhaps the old way of training pre-nurses would be advantageous; tutored by matrons, sister and tutors plus some consultants. There has been wonderful progress in the medical world and of course, I do realise that there are needs for advanced tuition.

A genuine consultation

From: Coun Jenny Platts, Cabinet Spokesperson, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Barnsley.

You reported that Barnsley Council is consulting on proposed changes to the way it charges for services to help some people to continue living at home (Yorkshire Post, February 14).

Barnsley’s charges for these services are the lowest in the region, among the lowest nationally, and this will not change even if the proposed changes come into effect.

Moreover, it was disappointing your report failed to applaud the breadth of the consultation process. Dementia varies in its level of severity. Barnsley Council works on a positive assumption that the majority of people can express a view, and therefore should be treated as such and given the opportunity to respond.

Hit the brakes

From: Karl Sheridan, Selby Road, Holme on Spalding Moor.

HAVING sat and watched Top Gear the other night, I do have to ask if the BBC is being rather cavalier with licence payer’s money. I admit that being a car enthusiast, I do enjoy some of the antics of Messrs Hammond, May and Clarkson: however just lately their exploits are becoming more and more ridiculous. A good 20 minutes of the show was wasted with a pointless exercise involving a combine harvester in Norway and stupid stunts in snow.

There is no doubt that Clarkson and Co are indeed a brilliant team, but the sensationalism as well as the costs are getting well out of hand.