Irony of EU
expansion
into Ukraine

IN answer to the letter (The Yorkshire Post, March 22) from Robert Reynolds, I wonder if he saw the perverse pictures on the news on Friday where we had two unelected EU bureaucrats, namely Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso, 
signing a treaty of co-operation with the unelected leader of the Ukraine who took power after 
a coup.

That is the top and bottom of the problems in Ukraine at this moment in time.

The unelected, corrupt leaders of the EU are trying to expand its borders into the Ukraine against the majority wishes of the Russian-speaking population.

Also, does he not realise the Russian people are a proud race and have not forgotten how history treated them the last time their territory was encroached on by Adolf Hitler? It cost over 25 million lives.

From: David Collins, Scissett.

WE have Russia annexing the Crimea, mainly because a majority in that region speak Russian. Hitler used exactly the same argument to annexe part of Poland that was German- speaking, the only thing was he didn’t stop there.

What was missing at these times was strong leadership other than the dictators. The same today. More time spent pandering to elements of the press than taking unpalatable decisions. More time spent in making themselves re-electable than governing the country.

Time to wake up.

From: Hugh Rogers, Messingham Road, Ashby.

“RUSSIA has no wish to annexe any further parts of Ukraine” (Vladimir Putin, March 2014)

“The Sudetenland is the last territorial claim which I have to make in Europe” (Adolf Hitler, September 1938). Spot the difference. And watch this space.

From: Michael Ellison, Knapping Hill, Harrogate.

I TOTALLY agree with John Fortune and Terry Watkinson (The Yorkshire Post, March 22) that the UK should accept the recent referendum in Crimea.

I would add that this would be more acceptable when Putin allows the residents of Chechnya to also have a referendum about their requests for the creation of an independent country.

Disruption
from Tour

From: Frederic Manby, Gargrave.

I WAS not surprised to hear the Yorkshire stages of the Tour will be well over budget. Big events usually are, but the suggestion by Sir Rodney Walker, chairman of the acronym TDFHUB2014Ltd, that the budget shortfall was excusable “because nothing like this has ever been done before” was strange (The Yorkshire Post, March 14).

In 1994 the Tour had two stages in southern England after Chris Boardman won the opening time trial. The overall victor was the truly great Miguel Indurain. While the budget can be expected to wobble, what “we” are not aware of is just how much disruption is caused by the Tour.

I have enjoyed being at several stages in France, where spectators and anyone who happens to be there are effectively locked-in for several hours before and after the race passes through. I am currently researching a viewpoint which evades this.

From: Anthony Hopkins, Carlton Drive, Guiseley.

IT is reported that costs of the Tour de France in Yorkshire have been under-estimated by in excess of £2m. It furthermore details that the contributions from partner councils are being managed and underwritten by Leeds City Council. Should this more correctly state “underwritten by Leeds Council taxpayers” ?

Yet again we are faced with total incompetence in relation to public finances. Millions are written off by central Government on unworkable computer programmes and incompetent purchasing policies, so no surprise it is happening at a local level.

Leeds struggles to empty wheelie bins at times in my neck of the woods, so Tour de France costings might be proving a step too far. Would it not be a much cheaper option to leave the Tour in France and pop over the water on a cheap ferry ticket for those really interested in seeing a bunch of cyclists flashing past in a couple of minutes?

From: David Bradley, Horbury, Wakefield.

WHAT a fantastic performance by Harry Gration and Amy Garcia, doing the Tour route for Sport Relief. Every time I saw them, Amy was out of the saddle dancing on the pedals. She looked a real Tour de France climber.

Help sought on family history

From: Janet Tinkler, Sydney, Australia.

MY great-grandfather, Robert Tinkler (1822-1889), was a 
master printer and had a printing business in the High Street in Stockton-on-Tees for over 40 years. Robert had two sons, John (1858-1940) and Richard (1854-1914). John Tinkler was my grandfather.

I would really like to contact Peter R Tinkler and Alison E Tinkler, the children of Barbara and Alan Tinkler, who are descendants of Richard 
Tinkler, to share family history research.

I believe they live in the York or Yorkshire area.

Please contact me in Australia on [email protected].