How Leeds became a 
city of culture

From: Dame Fanny Waterman, Leeds.

The 17th Leeds International Piano Competition has ended on a triumphant note, and I give my heartfelt thanks to the Yorkshire Post for the excellent publicity given to the competition and to me personally. It has been wonderful.

Sir David Tang, in his speech on the final night, referred to the musical scene in Leeds in the past, and I would like to recall my own musical memories when I was very young, which will reinforce what he said.

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The great violinist, Jascha Heifetz, played at the Town Hall in the 1930s to an audience of 36, and he said he would never return to Leeds.

Victoria de los Angeles, one of the greatest singers of her day, sang to a half-empty Town Hall and Artur Schnabel, also a world famous pianist, entered the hall and muttered “they must have forgotten me”.

In more recent times, the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra under its conductors, Norman Del Mar and Nicolai Malko, “folded up” because they had lost their supporting audiences and although the triennial Leeds Festival flourished under the musical expertise and direction of the Earl of Harewood, it too tragically closed because, in my opinion, the musical powers choose too many performances of contemporary music, which did not please the audiences. The attitude of the music people in power at that time said it was not their responsibility to put “bums on seats”.

I regularly attend the Leeds International Concert Season at the Town Hall and Matthew Sims, the city’s principal music officer, chooses great international orchestras and conductors who not only entertain, but educate us. It is a great achievement.

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The Leeds International Concert Season and the recital Series, Opera North, Northern Ballet, Leeds College of Music the University School of Music and other organisations have transformed Leeds into a City of Culture and it is no longer the city of many years ago to which Sir David Tang referred to in his speech.

I am proud when people tell me that the Leeds International Piano Competition has put the city of Leeds on the international map.

With my very best wishes and renewed thanks.

Taste of real discipline

From: R Oliver, Lime Close, Calow, Chesterfield.

May I respond to Mark Siddall’s comments (Yorkshire Post, 15 September) on the subject of probation services and re-offending? If detention was implemented as it should be, then they would not want to return there. As it is, most of them receive far better conditions and facilities than they have on “the outside”, together with three good meals a day. Who would not want to be in such a place when the best of care and resources are expended upon them?

Implement the operation as on the 1950s line of National Service and then see how many re-offend. Have an RSM type spitting fire into your face half-an-inch from one’s nose. Go to bed at night to get warm (no heating). Lay out all kit evey day ironed, spare boot laces coiled and held together with cotton, think how good it looks and then have all your bed and kit uprooted by some Sergeant and have it to do all over again. No time to think of drugs or alcohol. No entertainment of any sort, not even a radio.

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If an individual had detention they may be given a brush for painting and if enquiring what to paint the answer would be “if it doesn’t move, paint it”.

For the “hard nuts” there were also the Military Correction Centres, where everything had to be done “at the double” and which operated on more sadistic lines. If this didn’t bring them into line they might receive a Dishonorable Discharge which made it just about impossible to gain employment.

I could mention many other things, surfice to say, that if we if had the disipline of those days without all of the legal and human rights issues we would also have respect brought back into our lives and there would be no requirement for such as Mark Siddall and many others. One only has to look at those countries which continue with National Service-type operations and observe the difference to our own situation.

I am sure that many of your readers can relate to my comments and also add to those above but I’m afraid we have no-one in the country with the stature or calibre to bring about an acceptable alternative to that which prevails today.

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Some might claim that it wouldn’t work but, “If you haven’t tried it, then don’t knock it.” It turned boys into men and taught them respect. That was, of course, when there was no such thing as human rights and benefits like those of today.

Switching without pain

From: Mark Bowerman, PR Manager, Payments Council, Thomas More Square, London.

With regard to your recent article “Switching current accounts is still a painful process” (Yorkshire Post, September 8), we are pleased to point out that the banking industry is introducing a new service in September 2013 that will make switching current accounts from one bank to another much easier for customers.

In particular the new service will: reduce the amount of time it takes to switch an account from between 18 and 30 days to just seven working days; provide a guarantee that customers can rely on; and it will be hassle-free – all payments will be automatically transferred to a customer’s new account. Your article also asks whether portable account numbers would help customers switch without concern. Our new service will do exactly this, more quickly and at lower cost.