Important to
value our industrial past

IT is good that so much attention is has been given to the threat of closure on our three Northern museums funded by the Science Museum in London and that a number of high profile commentators voiced their opposition to this before a reprieve.

My particular concern has been for the National Railway Museum in York.

For those of us interested in the details of railway history it offers a vast archival source in its collection of plans, documents and other artefacts that are accessed through its excellent search engine. We must not lose this.

There is also a wider picture to view with all these museums. It astounds me that, when academics and industrialists are bemoaning the lack of interest 
by young people in pursuing studies in science and technology, the custodians of 
our history in these subjects should consider removing anything that might inspire their imagination.

Railway history shows us the tremendous outpouring of ingenuity and invention that was shown by our great engineers and the energy and vision of the entrepreneurs who developed the sytem and the industries that grew up with it. This is something that as a nation we were good at, yet we do not value our industrial past.

The NRM at York is not just a collection of colourful trains to be admired as a spectacle by tourists. It is a statement of a once great industry that was vital to our national economy and the way everyone lived. It makes an impact by the sheer scale of its presentation.

One way to inspire the endeavours of the future is through a sense of pride and awe in the achievements of the past. This is the value of all three museums and why closure should not be on the agenda.

Unjustified hostility

From: Tim Mickleburgh, Boulevard Avenue Grimsby.

IT never ceases to surprise me how hostile certain members of the Conservative Party towards the Liberal Democrats, and their leader Nick Clegg in particular.

For if Clegg hadn’t taken his party into coalition, then Cameron would have led a minority Government, with his most controversial measures defeated in the Commons.

Instead, to hold on to power, the Liberal Democrats have voted for proposals they would have almost certainly have opposed if they weren’t part of the coalition.

From: David Treacher, Nelson Road, Hull, East Yorkshire.

WE in Britain are a group who just stand by and have everything thrown at us.

Our gas and electricity is rising and there are government cuts, but we just accept it and all we do is moan to our family and friends. We all need motivation and stand up for ourselves to the Government, council and even private concerns through our MP, the media and let them know how we feel or how is it going to end?

Good fortune to have Peter Levy

From: Wendy Abbott, Boulsworth Avenue, Kingston Upon Hull, East Yorkshire.

WITH reference to the letter from Sara Parr (Yorkshire Post, June 12), and the continuing absence of Christa Ackroyd from Look North, Peter Levy is a much respected television news presenter.

He is immensely popular here in Hull and throughout the region.

He can on occasion appear tendentious when he is conducting an interview, but this is because it is part of his job in order to achieve a positive result for the viewers.

He is always immaculately dressed, and if by chance he is recognised in the street he is 
very courteous to his supporters.

A true gentleman.

We are very fortunate to have him here in Hull and long may he continue to read the news and entertain us.

Course work should count

From: M Hellawell, Cross Lane, Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

WITH reference to Michael Gove’s reform of GCSEs. While I agree the exams need to be more rigorous, I don’t think he should remove course work modules altogether.

There are children who do not cope well with sitting exams and I feel a quarter should be course work. I agree that pupils do need to write proper essays for some exams. I only hope that these ideas will be more acceptable than his previous attempts to change GCSEs.

I also hope that Shakespeare will be taught in the form it 
was written in – namely plays – 
if they are acted out it gives 
more meaning and understanding. That’s how we learnt to appreciate and understand Shakespeare, inspired by a wonderful teacher.

Surprising omission

From: Dennis Johnson, Firbeck Road, Bramham.

IN your report of the service 
of thanksgiving for 150 years 
of the Yorkshire County 
Cricket Club (Yorkshire Post, 
June 15), you listed some of the “All time greats” who have 
graced the team over the 
years. I am surprised and disappointed the you omitted 
the best batsman of them all: namely Len Hutton.

I rate him the second world best – unfortunately the best accolade has to go to an Aussie, Don Bradman. It is my life’s regret that I could not see him at Headingley on that amazing last day of the 1948 Test Match – I was at scout camp at the time.