February 17 letters; It’s not always flaky to panic over snow

I WRITE in reference to Andrew Vine’s article (The Yorkshire Post, February 3) regarding people showing signs of panic at the possible onset of snow. I can see where he is coming from, to a point, but there is another side to the coin.

In the 1990s, I was in Sheffield at Owlerton Stadium attending an afternoon greyhound meeting. The weather got slightly milder and it started to snow. I left after the last race at 4.30pm.

I walked to the rail station, a distance of about four miles, because I could somehow sense the buses would be delayed. By the time I reached the station, there was much panic and pandemonium. I just missed my train to Leeds and eventually managed to board another which detoured via Wakefield and Castleford. I was living at Morley at the time.

By this time it was about 7pm and the snow had ceased, but I think it was about two to three feet deep. The train though had to stop three times and the guard and some passengers had to clear the line of fallen trees and snow. It was, in fact, a slightly dangerous situation.

After eventual arrival at Wakefield, the train driver announced he was going no further. I then decided to walk home to Morley, a distance of about seven miles. I did break my journey, called in at a pub and watched Manchester United and Crystal Palace. It was the night Eric Cantona karate-kicked a spectator.

I then continued my trek home to Morley and at one point the main road going from Wakefield to Bradford was strewn with people and abandoned vehicles. One family with a baby in arms was being taken into an hostel nearby, luckily.

I did eventually arrive home at about 1.15am. The Yorkshire Evening Post’s extra large headline the following day summed it up: “Stranded”.

Clarity over
sex lessons

From: Brian H Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

I’M not sure what John Watson means when he says that “the proposal to give five-year-olds lessons in heterosexual behaviour together with that of homosexuality and lesbianism really plumbs the depths” (The Yorkshire Post, February 9). Is he offended by sex-education of any kind at such a tender age or is it the horror that heterosexuality should be juxtaposed with homosexuality?

I have doubts about the value of any formal education before the age of six – other advanced nations manage quite well without it – but that’s another story. In any event, sex-education is too delicate and potentially hazardous a matter to be rushed into a school timetable. It must be approached with expertise.

Where the Hull is it?

From: Mrs S Hill, New Village Road, Cottingham, East Yorkshire.

CAN anyone please help me? Why isn’t Hull on the map that covers all of the British Isles?

From Newcastle down to Norwich Hull and other towns seem to have dropped into the sea. It annoys me no end when you think Hull is a ferry terminal yet not mentioned in the larger weather map.

We live one stop on the train from Hull which I must say is a very interesting city, with lovely museums to visit. Also Hull is the City of Culture for 2017 – unless it falls into the sea. Perhaps someone can enlighten me.

Embrace this
last farewell

From: Harry Santiuste, Coningsburgh Road, Edenthorpe, Doncaster.

NOW that the re-interment ceremonies for King Richard III are taking place at Leicester Cathedral in March, let’s hope that those who opposed this location will soon generously embrace this event. Indeed, they could generously mark the final gesture of farewell by holding a fine memorial service for this much maligned monarch at their own preferred location – York Minster.

We pay price
for bankers

From: ME Wright, Grove Road, Harrogate.

“ANOTHER black day for banking” (The Yorkshire Post, February 10 ). Why did this Editorial come as no surprise? In the 1980s, bankers and their friends were given the right to do whatever they wished. No subsequent government had the sense, decency or inclination to rein them in.

In 2008, the machinations of certain banks were exposed. We, the ordinary people of Britain, bailed them out and are still paying the price.

Who is to be trusted with mucking out the stables? A healthy and independent Press, snapping at their heels, must surely play a part.

Why wi-fi?

From: Mr David M Davies, Burgess Road, Brigg, North Lincolnshire.

WITH regard to the issue of wi-fi on trains, the money would be better spent on the conversion of all passenger trains to ‘captive’ toilet drainage to get rid of the medieval practice of waste discharge directly on to the tracks. This is, after all, the 21st century.

Rhubarb
amuses

From: Mrs EA Henry, Larchfield Road, Doncaster.

IN 1898 Alice Metcalf, aged two and a half, braved the semi-darkness of the keeping cellar in her family’s home. Her goal was the bowl of stewed rhubarb cooling on the stone slab shelf. Her mother guessed where she had disappeared to and called down: “Alice, are you eating the rhubarb?”

“No, I’m not eating the rhubarb.” Unfortunately the pink juice stains on her pinny proved her misdemeanour. A hundred and sixteen years later, this tale is still amusing our family.