Wilson gave up his holidays too

REGARDING Paul Kirkwood’s excellent article on Harold Wilson’s holidays in the Scillies (Yorkshire Post, August 27), I would like to correct him on one small point.

He compares David Cameron’s interrupted holiday, due to recent riots, to that of Wilson’s in that “nothing so disagreeable would disturb Harold’s holidays”.

However, I recall one early evening in August in the late 60s when I was out walking near the airport on St Mary’s and, unusually, there was a Navy helicopter coming in to land.

My interest was further aroused when I saw an ashen-faced Wilson striding purposely across the runway to board the helicopter which took off in great haste. Next day the headlines in the papers revealed all: The Irish situation had escalatedviolently.

Nothing changes – it goes with the job description.

Thank you

From: Paul Emsley (late REMF), Newton Way, Hellifield, Nr Settle, North Yorkshire.

TO the people of Wootton Bassett, we salute you. You have represented the country in showing our grief and respect for the fallen. Your symbolism and selflessness has given to those who have died in the service of their country a simple act of remembrance, on behalf of us all.

That act will help families and friends who are left behind to come to terms with their loss and the loss to the nation of those sons and daughters who aren’t coming home.

Stupid Tories

From: Geoffrey Bloom, UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, Main Street, Wressle, Selby

In all fairness David Cameron has only kept one promise and that was to desecrate the countryside with turbines. My boss Nigel Farage cautioned me years ago “never under-estimate the stupidity of the rural Conservative” and, another classic, “the bigger the house the sillier the occupant”. If you voted Tory at the last election, you deserve all you are getting.