It’s possible to make dialysis part of life

MR Ikram (The Yorkshire Post, December 16) gives a rather depressing view of dialysis. Like many, he obviously sees it as a 
life sentence. Having dialysed now for nigh on eight years, I regard it as a sentence to life; as long as I can dialyse, I can live.

In contrast to Mr Ikram, I make dialysis part of my life – life is not part of my dialysis!

Most dialysis units around 
the country have places available for “holiday dialysis” patients. There are even some which specialise in holiday dialysis. His unit probably has a holiday dialysis co-ordinator and Mr Ikram should have a word 
with her/him and his consultant to see what is possible in his 
case.

Over the years I have had at least one, often two, holidays a year. The biggest problem has been getting a place. The popular areas tend to get booked early. As you may know, Whitby is not the easiest place to get to, or from if, like me one is dependent on public transport.

Notwithstanding that, in the past month I have been to London, Glasgow (involving an overnight trip) and York twice.

I am perhaps fortunate in that my unit allows me to change sessions to suit my travel arrangements and my consultant occasionally lets me have a session off.

As an example I have a weekend trip planned for early in the new year which involves dialysing on the Thursday instead of my usual Friday, and leaving my destination early on the Monday to get back to Middlesbrough in time for my usual Monday evening session.

It can be done, Mr Ikram – you just have to want to. Dialyse to live, don’t live to dialyse.

Thorpe was a great leader

From: Chris Foote-Wood, Prospective Parliamentary Lib Dem candidate for Richmond, Brook Terrace, Darlington.

ATTENDING the funeral of the former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe, it was good to see five present and former party leaders, as shown in your excellent coverage of the event (The Yorkshire Post, December 18).

Your main photograph showed Thorpe’s coffin draped in the Union Flag, topped by a bouquet of lilies. At the back, not shown in your picture, was the brown trilby hat Thorpe often wore when campaigning.

As party leader in the 1970s, Thorpe led us to our biggest 
vote in 80 years and would 
have been in government but for the vagaries of our electoral system.

He gave me personal friendship and support which I and my wife Frances were able to return in some measure in his latter years when he was stricken with Parkinson’s disease.

In my opinion, Thorpe was a great man brought down by circumstance and the stupidity of his “friends”. Yes, he hid his homosexuality, as many were forced to do in the days when it was illegal.

Hopes for city cricket ground

From: Richard Robinson, Greenhill Crag, Lady Lane, Bingley.

AS the last president of Bradford Cricket Club at Park Avenue before it closed, I was interested to read your article by Chris Waters about the possible resurrection of the old ground (The Yorkshire Post, December 11).

The main reason for the closure was the fact that Yorkshire told us they would no longer be playing at our ground. The cost to us of keeping a ground fit for county cricket was prohibitive and the few people who came to watch league cricket left us with no alternative but to close the ground. However, before we took that decision, we approached Yorkshire County Cricket Club through our trustees, telling them that we would give them the ground for £1 providing they would always play cricket or sport on the ground. Bearing in mind that at that time Yorkshire did not own a blade of grass in the Broad Acres. They rejected the offer, as they said that all their efforts and money would be going into Headingley to ensure their Test Match status. We therefore had no alternative but to close Park Avenue. We paid off all the debts and went to Bingley and formed Bradford & Bingley Cricket Club.

Emotionally the bringing back to life of Park Avenue would appeal to a lot of people but it will not be an easy matter, as the cost could be quite significant. However, good luck, and let’s hope it comes back to life, but I would suggest that the heart must not rule the head.

Courageous campaigner

From: Alan Smith, Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire.

I HAVE been following the Keighley Council story (The Yorkshire Post, December 20). I truly believe that Elizabeth Mitchell should be put forward for an honour for the stalwart effort she has put in to expose her council, and attempt to bring them to justice.

I would think that an OBE would be appropriate and fervently hope that both yourselves and the people of Keighley would recommend that she gets some official recognition.

It takes courage and tenacity to take on a corrupt council, and we need to give encouragement to those who do, in order to give hope to others and show that democracy is not quite dead just yet.

From here, it would seem that Elizabeth Mitchell has true Yorkshire grit in abundance.