Properly proclaim
our success

From: RC Curry, Adel Grange Close, Leeds.

IT seems likely that these Olympics will go down as possibly the most successful and happy of those held in the modern era, being especially noted for the warmth of welcome to our visitors.

Yet it was recently reported that the “top brass” of the BBC had instructed reporters and commentators to show less enthusiasm and euphoria in respect of British achievements; more energy had to be diverted to proclaiming the efforts of other nations.

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Speaking to colleagues and friends, none of us feels that other countries have been given less than their dues and that it is right for our own national achievements to be properly praised.

A policy of the BBC doing its worst to downplay our country has prevailed for some time now, notably in the way it takes huge delight in enlarging upon any misfortunes, economic or otherwise. Further, when there is good news, nearly always it is signed off at the end with an “it might all go wrong of course”. This latest report seems to confirm that the gloom-mongers are having their strings pulled by the back office at the behest of their chiefs.

Perhaps it would be useful for the BBC to recall that it is paid for by the British taxpayer and the word British is in the title. If those in charge feel ashamed to proclaim that they should resign forthwith and emigrate to wherever it is they will feel more comfortable.

In conclusion, despite the elaborate, negative media reporting of a few pre-Games problems, congratulations and “bravo” to Lord Coe and his team, for a truly Great British achievement. Gold medals to the lot of them.

From: Andrew Gentles, Hollins Crescent, Harrogate.

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BARON de Coubertin must be rotating in his grave, if he was bombarded, as this country has been by much of the media, and the BBC in particular, banging on about the medal table, and this country’s position.

He, more than anyone, was responsible for the founding of the modern Olympic Games, spending some 30 years being very closely involved, and also spending much of his own personal fortune to do this.

Not able by 1936 to attend the games in Berlin, he sent a message stating that the important thing “was not the winning, but the taking part”. Likely he was aware that Hitler and the Nazi movement saw the only aim for them was to glorify the Aryan race and the German nation.

At the other end of the political spectrum, after the war, the communist East German government were obsessed by the medal table, and to glorify their State and party they pushed steroids on their men and women in order to win, many of whom paid a very high price with severe health problems, and reduced life expectancy.

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Neither country was successful at the end of the day in achieving their aims.

Competition is the life-blood of sport, but to say that coming second is failure reflects a naive and rather narrow-minded view.

From: John Eoin Douglas, Spey Terrace, Edinburgh.

NOW that the Olympics are over, it is time to consider their legacy for our capital city.

As a guest of the Olympic Family, I was impressed by the speed and efficiency of the Olympic route network’s segregated lanes and would ask Boris Johnson to consider their permanent retention for use by official vehicles and those who are willing to pay a premium.

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Their aspirational affect on those in the slow lanes could well drive new generations to hard work and consequent economic success.

Camouflage success

From: Maureen Hunt, Woolley, near Wakefield.

FOLLOWING my letter “Furniture firm helped to make wartime planes” (Yorkshire Post, April 17), it has been fascinating and exciting to discover the level of involvement that Wilkinsons (Bradford) Ltd (of which my father was managing director) had in the war effort. Apparently, practically everyone who was working in wood was helping in some way with war work, even piano-makers.

Before the Second World War, Wilkinsons (Wilkies) had two factories, one at Hall Lane, Bradford, and the other in Pontefract. It is believed that the Government provided them with a third in Farsley where the fuselage for the Avro Anson was produced. Around 4,000 Ansons were constructed at the shadow factory in Yeadon, where 700 Lancaster bombers were also built. One of these Ansons, used by the Australian Air Force, was bought recently by a New Zealander and is being restored near Nelson for flight later this year. It is, therefore, just possible that Wilkies provided the original fuselage for this aeroplane.

In addition, part of the fuselage for the Mosquito was made both in Bradford and in Pontefract, together with other parts for aircraft, such as the Auster army spotter plane. The small Hotspur glider was constructed, followed by the large troop-carrying Horsa glider used extensively at Arnhem, of which a replica exists at Pegasus Bridge in Normandy.

Rifle stocks and ammunition boxes were also manufactured.

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Mr Sparrow, who kindly phoned me, said that both his parents worked at Wilkinsons and his father was driven to Yeadon from Bradford daily to work on the aircraft. At the height of the war there were 12,000 employees at the factory, which covered more than 37 acres.

It is not surprising that my father, with his knowledge of the vital work which was being carried out in the area, thought that Bradford could be bombed and sent his children to school in the safety of the Lake District. Fortunately, there was only one raid in August 1940, with a single fatality. There was obviously no leakage of information from those engaged in this top-secret work and the fantastic camouflage of the Yeadon factory remained foolproof throughout the conflict.

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