YP Letters: Brave words on loneliness of single life

How refreshing to hear and learn of GP Taylor’s experiences as a single male (The Yorkshire Post, September 28).

Having had the status of ‘widower’ thrust upon me before male retirement age and having had 10 years of living the single life, with a daughter and son living away with lives and careers to follow, Mr Taylor’s superb article emphasises clearly just what happens when reduced in life to single status, something that is very much covered in various publications if the person involved is female.

When references are made to the plight of males in the same predicament it is like a new light being shone on the question of loneliness, an issue that has been so well documented in The Yorkshire Post’s excellent campaign which draws constant attention to Britain’s hidden ‘epidemic’.

Mr Taylor will know that coming in to an empty house, particularly during the dark winter months, can be soul destroying.

I found one of the great comforts during the long winter weekdays was to turn on Radio 4’s Women’s Hour, just to hear the sounds of the female voice in a vain attempt to make up for the loss of my late wife’s chatter and constructive conversation.

From: Fiona Lemmon, Clifton, Maltby, Rotherham.

I FEEL that GP Taylor’s article on loneliness deserves comment. His honest and open column is a poignant expose on the matter. many of his observations and feelings resonating with me personally and, I’m sure, with many other people.

It just goes to show that loneliness can affect anyone and everyone, even erudite people like Mr Taylor who no doubt, nonetheless struggled to find the right words for his article. He mentions that social media compounds his loneliness.

My recommendation is that, out of self defence, it is best to avoid it or anything else which is a downer. Also, it makes me again question the human craving for companionship, for that other person who makes an individual feel to be a whole.

Growing up and learning what our individuality constitutes should equip us to feel to be a whole entity in our own right, to be happy in and with our own person. We can be alone without being lonely. Once Mr Taylor has reached that state, chances are the companion he craves will pop up when least expected.

Thank you, Mr Taylor, for your frank revelations. I wish you joy and a feeling of belonging.

Folly to show our hand

From: Bob Watson, Baildon.

INEPT Labour Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry states that “a commitment on the timing of Article 50 is meaningless unless Theresa May can answer all the prior and more fundamental questions about what deal Britain is going to propose for our future relationship with the EU”.

Is this lady totally clueless? Why on earth would the Prime Minister outline what we are looking for before negotiations commence?

We just have to be thankful that incompetent politicians such as Ms Thornberry will have no input into these important forthcoming talks.

From: John Hall, Pennithorne Avenue, Baildon, Shipley.

THE French state controls our nuclear power. The Chinese will do likewise. So much for the Thatcherite reduction of the role of the state.

I have no doubt that Brexit will be as great a success and many people will accept the result, but the economy will suffer and especially the ‘little people’ who were conned into backing Brexit to keep the foreigners out.

Trouble brewing

From: Andy Hicks, Station Road, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

THE reason micro-breweries are so successful is because the beer laws allow them to pay much less tax than medium and large brewers, consequently they can undercut them on price (The Yorkshire Post, October 3).

This situation has continued for a number of years now to the point that our medium-sized breweries are really struggling.

Perhaps if these breweries are wiped out by unfair competition, the Government will have to raise the tax on the micro-breweries to maintain its income.

It will be interesting to see how the micro-brewers will fare if they have to work to the same profit margins.

Too much complaining

From: Dave Croucher, Doncaster.

It amazes me what people in this country complain about.

Complaints because Blenheim Palace was depicted in a film as a Nazi HQ. Do people really think a man with the sense of humour of Sir Winston Churchill would have been bothered?

Complaints because a wildlife presenter describes hunters and shooters as “the nasty brigade”. I know numerous members of this fraternity and can’t think of one of them that would as much as raise a eyebrow at any outsider’s opinion.

Dead funny dedication

From: Brian Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

FURTHER to the ongoing correspondence about abuse of English, I heard a sports presenter report that a team was “literally dying to win this one”. That’s commitment for you.