More frond thoughts

WILLIAM Snowden (Yorkshire Post, October 9) is quite correct in saying bracken is also a fern. I did not intend to imply otherwise in my letter (Yorkshire Post, October 1).

To be more clear I should have said: “Unlike other ferns, which grow as discrete plants, bracken spreads aggressively and forms blanket coverage to the exclusion of practically all other vegetation.”

The fact that Mr Snowden has not been poisoned by bracken can be simply attributed to the fact that he has not been eating it.

In Japan where pickled bracken shoots were once a delicacy, consumption has been associated with stomach cancer in humans.

True knights

From: Peter Hyde, Driffield.

I SEE there is a move afoot to get Nicholas Parsons knighted. I ask the question why?

He has earned a good living from the entertainment business, but what has he actually done to improve or save lives?

The practice of knighting sportsmen and women and 
stars of stage and screen degrades the honour (Derek Thompson, Yorkshire Post, October 10).

There are many more worthy people such as surgeons, physicians, lifesavers of many sorts who are far worthier recipients than the popular soccer player/manager, television actor/presenter, cyclist, rugby player or civil servant or police chief.

Jobs for boys

From: Colin Cawthray, Stowe Garth, Bridlington.

MORE jobs for the boys and girls (Yorkshire Post, October 9).

Terry Duncan of Bridlington received a brown envelope containing an electoral roll letter.It was delivered by a council employee, who was being paid 15p an envelope.

I, too, received an envelope. It was pushed through my letterbox by a child, who could not have been any older than nine.

What I would like to know is why is East Riding Council using such young people?