It takes a lot to get the wind up Sir David

I REFER to Jayne Dowle’s column on Sir David Attenborough (Yorkshire Post, April 25).

This took me back around 20 years to when I was the Administrator for the Cumbria Wildlife Trust, based in Ambleside.

My sideline was photography, so when Sir David, in his capacity as President of the Wildlife Trusts, accepted an invitation to visit us at a public open day at Holker Hall, my brief was to stick to him like glue and record everything he did.

I purchased a copy of his latest book before asking him to sign it, after which I would make him an offer he could not refuse. He agreed to my request to film him throughout the day – what a man, nothing was too much trouble, and his way with youngsters was amazing.

Donning wellies, he waded through a pond, dipping with a net to catch a selection of water creatures which he showed and explained to them. He must have spent half-an-hour with a parrot on his shoulder while the public and their children expended reels of film.

On another memorable occasion, he climbed into the gondola beneath one of two balloons, the other containing the late, great Brian Redhead, then President of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, and Lord Cavendish, the idea being to mark the sealing of a lease of some land, at Humphrey Head, to the Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

Sadly, the usual westerly wind had swung to a near gale-force easterly, so both balloons, although tethered to the bumpers of Land Rovers, were restricted to swooping way above us while the front wheels of those hefty vehicles were, from time to time, parted from the ground.

I obtained some shots of decidedly sea-sick celebrities and, indeed, on returning to terra firma, Sir David confided that he had been all over the world and in some decidedly hairy situations, yet had never before been so terrified as in that balloon.

What a wonderful ambassador we have in Sir David.

Flying the flag for Yorkshire

From: V Platt, Hereford Road, Harrogate.

Last year, on my visit to the Great Yorkshire Show, I asked one of the officials why there were no Yorkshire flags flying (except at the WI stall) at the entrance to the show or in the showground itself.

His reply took my breath away. He said: “Why should there be? How often would we use them?”

I said: “Because it is the premier show in the land and people come from all over the country to see it and you should be proud to fly our Yorkshire flag.”

He replied: “Why?”

I wanted to thump him but decided against it because he was a lot bigger than me and I am well into my 80s, so I just told him he should be ashamed of himself and walked away.

I hope this letter is read by all the show officials and a decision is made to buy two big flags to be flown this year at the entrance (they are made locally at Flying Colours in Knaresborough) and show the rest of the country we are proud of being Yorkshire – unlike the joker I spoke to (maybe he was from Lancashire, that would explain it).

In praise of Bradford

From: Joyce and Arnold Lightowler, Boroughbridge.

Referring to the letter from Iain Morris (Yorkshire Post, April 18) about Bettys being in Bradford, we remember it well. For one thing, we had our wedding reception there.

We were married in March 1944, just before D-Day. My husband had a few days leave from the RAF.

Bettys was at the top of Darley Street (going down), later moving opposite, then, unfortunately, leaving altogether.

What lovely shops Bradford had – Brown & Muffs, Christopher Pratts, Fattorinis, Dunnes (gents outfitters), Busbys (later taken over by Debenhams). I could go on.

Then, of course, the Swan Arcade, between Broadway and Market Street.

As Bradfordians, we are so proud of its history. My husband had the honour of becoming Lord Mayor in 1980 and I became Lady Mayoress.

About a year before this, he suggested to his group that it would be a good idea to try to encourage tourists to Bradford. Some of his colleagues thought it very amusing.

However, when he became Lord Mayor he was delighted to welcome the first tourist to Bradford (he came from Hastings).

Since then, tourists have come to see just what Bradford, and surrounding area, has to offer.

Time to fine the litter louts

From: N Bywater, Airedale Terrace, Morley, Leeds.

HAVING seen various news reports of litter-strewn parks, Roundhay Park and Burley Park to name just two, why is that the cost of clearing up the litter should be paid for by Leeds City Council?

Calls for more bins or more litter-picking teams are nonsense; what we need is more enforcement officers. With fines at £75 for dropping litter, it should only take a couple to cover the enforcement officers’ wages for the day.

And if the parks become litter-free, the enforcement officers can patrol main school routes.