YP Letters: Inspiring Yorkshire, but with some omissions...

YOUR supplement Inspiring Yorkshire revealed an eclectic mix of our county’s personalities (The Yorkshire Post, August 1). All I am sure were deserving of their place in the catalogue.

However, others like myself, might have wondered at how the choice was made to include each one and, importantly, whom to omit. Amongst our cricketing heroes, Geoffrey Boycott and Michael Vaughan will be approved by most.

My personal disappointment was the omission of Alan Bennett.

You included his contemporary as a scholar at Christ Church Upper Armley Primary School, Barbara Taylor Bradford, but no Alan. That small primary school must have had inspirational teachers in the 1930s. Your full list should be required reading for all of Yorkshire’s young people and it has certainly provoked discussion. We are so fortunate in being able to parade our county’s talents and the list could go on and on.

From: Tim Hare, Her Majesty’s Vice Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire.

I ENJOYED reading Inspiring Yorkshire and I am sure you will be inundated with alternatives. In fairness, it is an impossible one to get absolutely right.

However, Her Majesty The Queen’s representative, Dr Ingrid Roscoe, was made a Dame Commander of the Victorian Order (DCVO) in the 2017 New Year’s Honours List.

From: Colin Glass OBE, Winburn Glass Norfolk, Chartered Accountants, Park Place, Leeds.

I AM very grateful to you and your team for choosing to include me in the list of 100 Yorkshire achievers in the Inspiring Yorkshire supplement.

As a born and bred Yorkshireman, it makes me immensely proud to be so recognised.

From: Paul Willetts, Darlington Road, Stockton on Tees.

I WOULD respectfully suggest that the absence of the woman whose personal tragedy inspired Calendar Girls is a considerable oversight. Angela Knowles has ensured that over £5m has been raised for Bloodwise in support of their quest to eradicate blood-borne cancers: absolutely “above and beyond the call of duty”.

From: Marilyn Chamberlin. Selby.

WHAT? No Dame Judi Dench in your Inspiring Yorkshire magazine (The Yorkshire Post, August 1)? How could you miss her out?

Bar disrespect for veterans

From: Mary Saville, Barker Place, Leeds.

I WAS in Leeds the other day and was horrified to see a ‘bar’ assembled at the side of the Cenotaph with two large vans (no doubt filled with replenishment alcoholic bevevges) parked directly in front and obscuring the unknown soldier.

Graduating students were leaving their ceremonies at the Town Hall, which was indeed very nice to see, but they and their families were all making their way, rather hurriedly, to the said bar for their celebration ‘drink and be merry’ time.

There appears to be lots of celebrations held in close proximity of the Cenotaph throughout the year, which is in very poor taste. Should we not be paying tribute and showing our respect to our soldiers who fought and died for us all in the two world wars at this sacred place? Perhaps you could tell me and your readers who is responsible for organising such disrespectful events?

Is it not now time to show our respect and gratitude and have the Cenotaph re-sited, perhaps to Park Square, somewhere quiet where our ‘heroes’ can finally rest in peace and be honoured with the dignity they deserve?

Lack of NFU action on issue

From: Tony Armitage, Fulwith Road, Harrogate.

ANIMAL welfare is a basic and easily achievable requirement in our food chain. The recent outrage following exposure of disgraceful animal cruelty by a Red Tractor pig farmer must be a lesson to all others, but more than that to the National Union of Farmers who created the Red Tractor logo, food assurance scheme and discipline of quality from farm to fork. The NFU response to this disgraceful neglect is “the actions of one farm shouldn’t be allowed to taint the many”. Do the NFU not realise it is the lack of action by them which has tainted the many they protectively refer to?

Clouded by wrong tone

From: Malcolm Strachan, Hessle.

WHY is it that many news readers, weather forecasters and commentators drop their voices at the end of sentences? I am told that the clergy are trained to raise their voices in similar circumstances. What we want is a jolly tone but level.

From: Coun Tim Mickleburgh (Lab), Boulevard Avenue, Grimsby.

WHY do our weather forecasters continue to be subjective in their descriptions? We don’t all like exceptionally high temperatures, while gardeners like a bit of rain from time to time. So Paul Hudson of Look North, please take note!

Dog’s gift...

From: M Whitaker, Harswell, East Yorkshire.

ON end of year presents for teachers, we gave Miss Nettleton a present, but it was for her dog! We loved hearing about how naughty it was, more like us really, and we clubbed together and got it a big rubber bone and a nice big red ball to play with. Sorted!