Good people who make difference

We always read so much negative and bad news in the newspapers these days. Today I have a different story for you. I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart and that is why I want to thank all those good people who came to the Cougar's venue to support the Bangladesh Cyclone Appeal, on Friday, last week.

We raised more than £5,000 in just three hours and in the audience we had people from all ages, religions, different ethnicity and economic status.

Everyone had a lot of fun and gave their support in many ways. It just shows that people do care and had the goodness of the heart to give their time and money to help people who are so far away from Keighley.

I praise everyone, especially those individuals and businesses that supported and hosted the event. I am not going to mention names, yet say to those who did help, "you are the good people who make the difference in our town and in this ever changing world of today".

Friday evening was a success, you gave generously and you should be proud of your contributions because I am proud to be part of your humanity and Keighley town.

Abdul Motin Bangladesh Community Association

Keighley Mayor should be elected by people

As a lifelong Keighlian, I have read with interest and sometimes dismay recent articles and letters in this newspaper regarding our town council.

I, as I am sure did many others, had hoped that with the conception of Keighley Town Council, we were looking to a future where we would no longer be the poor relation of Bradford and would get back the right to control our towns destiny.

Sadly this has not even begun to happen in over five years of its existence and I fear that while there are councillors that bicker and generally behave like children, instead of getting on with the serious issues that affect Keighley and its citizens it will never happen.

I was particullary dismayed to read about the attempted censure of two councillors by members of managment and staffing committee. Councillors are there to represent the people of Keighley and should be allowed to do so without fear of recrimination of any kind when they speak out against injustice .

On the subject of the mayor, who else out there would like to see our town mayor elected by the people of Keighley instead of by 30 coucillors, this seems more democratic to me and such a mayor would truly be seen as of the people, by the people and for the people.

A Lyness Braithwaite Drive Keighley

Asset will yield no more

It was good to see Cllr Peter Hill's comments in the Keighley News concerning an injection of £10,000 into Oxenhope. Any investment into the Worth Valley is much needed and I am sure will be gratefully received.

However, I feel that an important point has been missed on this issue and that the money has come from the sale of a valuable local government asset, Leeds Bradford Airport. The airport, while under local authority control, had the potential to directly contribute to Bradford's (including Oxenhope's) wealth, well-being and development, now its future prosperity potential belongs to its new commercial owners and their shareholders.

Back in the 1980s, the former Conservative Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, likened the Thatcherite thirst for such privatisation measures to that of selling "selling the family silver": the Conservative-led Bradford Council seem to have done the same. Now that the airport has been sold it may have given a welcome £10,000 to a community but it will yield no more. In addition to this the apparently generous grant, when divided among the 1,700 or so people who live in Oxenhope, it means that each person will, effectively, be presented with about £6 each as compensation for the loss of control of their local airport. Is this fair compensation for such asset stripping?

Keith E Dredge (Worth Valley Labour Party) Ouse Street,Haworth

Not always just about us

I grieve frustratedly with Peter Moon over the thoughtless - vandalism? - of precious trees in Laycock. And it's the reasons given that bring despair: "the leaves were a nuisance".

Are we so far down the road of needing everything to be convenient that we are unable to contemplate putting a little effort into conserving beauty?

Bradford Council deemed that "the trees were of no amenity value". I guess they were to birds! When, oh when, will we learn that everything is not always just about us? And as for the third issue, "light restriction" - birch trees, with their delicate, frondy leaves, yield much transparency. They are stunningly beautiful.

Still on an environmental theme, I refer to Tom Smith's castigation last week of environmentalists who, according to him, are resenting the chance for Indians to drive their own cars.

On what basis does he make this judgment - a Friends of the Earth statement? No. He hangs his diatribe upon a "the green lobby will no doubt be " Ah, it's just your own speculation then Tom? I wonder, if environmentalists are, in fact, aiming their comments at the resultant increase in carbon emissions, rather than per se at the Indians' rights to do as we do?

Perhaps a useful point to make here is that - given the state of damage to our planet - we all have to match our industrial development with concomitant awareness of the impact on the Earth, at whatever stage we have reached. What was not known to be damaging to our climate in past ages of industrialisation is now known to be.

Citizens of Indian and Britain, alike, have to evaluate and reduce carbon emissions, may be India might like to focus on its private transport development? And we, on this also, together with our air traffic expansion.

Sylvia Walker, Styveton Way, Steeton

Smiles and greetings

Having read this week's Christian Viewpoint, I feel I must write to Mr Tim Garthwaite via your paper.

I left my native Wales three years ago to live near my family in Yorkshire. This was a difficult decision but one I have never regretted. I have found such friendship among Yorkshire people, you are all so kind and ready with smiles and greetings.

But my important message is that I joined Bingley Methodist Church soon after arriving. Mr Garthwaite refers to churches not being welcoming. Do come to Bingley and you will be warmly welcomed as soon as you step inside. If you cannot transport yourself, there is a rota of drivers who will pick you up and take you home. After the service tea and coffee is served, there is a Fairtrade stall and always several people to greet you and chat.

I have made so many good friends since I have joined and would urge anyone who feels lonely and in need of Christian fellowship to come along for the 10.30am, Sunday service, at Herbert Street, Bingley.

I look forward to meeting you.

Lorna Pope Glenview Road, Eldwick

Still waiting for a reply

Before Christmas you published a letter from me pointing out the perceived hypocrisy of Bradford Council in its attitude towards the disabled.

The following week you published a reply from Councillor Graham Mitchell stating that he had written to me asking me to meet him to discuss the matters in question.

In my letter to you of December 14, I said that I had replied immediately to him offering to meet him at the Town Hall.

Mr Mitchell has yet to reply to my letter.

Unless he too, like certain other councillors, has been gagged and forbidden from engaging in meaningful conversation with the voting citizens of the town.

S Bennett, Grafton Road, Keighley.

Apt name for comedy club

I think "Funny Buggers" is an apt name for a Comedy Club.

As it happens, on Thursday evening before I had the opportunity of reading the Keighley News, I was at the former Gas Club and I was thoroughly entertained. I am suspicious of any form of censorship and I don't understand bigots. Surely if you think you will be offended, chances are you will be. So avoid the book, film, music or live entertainment that express ideas which make you uncomfortable.

I shall certainly be going to the next stand up comedy event next Thursday and if you have a broad mind I urge you to leave the TV behind for once and support live entertainment.

Anne McKie Haworth

Good enough for mortals

Re funny buggers, buggery and hence bugger (originally derived from Bulgaria - there go the Wombles! - has never been illegal to print, especially since it has figured in numerous statutes (ie legal documents) starting with the Buggery Act 1533.

The Oxford Dictionary gives three definitions, only one of which comes remotely close to your correspondent's version of "a sexual act considered illegal by every religion on the face of the Earth", a phrase that's scarier in its implication than funny bugger or its close relative silly sod ever could be. Possibly immoral or sinful - depending on personal beliefs and how much interest any cleric could or should take in what goes on between consenting adults behind closed doors - but illegal?

Despite our head of state also being nominally Defender of the Faith, this is now, thank God, a secular society; words and the acts to which they relate can only become illegal through statute not theology. Anyway, George V's dying words were reputedly "bugger Bognor". If the word's acceptable from a Defender of the Faith on his way to meet his maker, it should be good enough for us lesser mortals.

Jane Leitch Carlton Street, Haworth

Cats need shredded paper

Haworth Cat Rescue uses shredded paper in lieu of cat litter at our small shelter based at Cross Roads.

Recently two of the companies who have in the past supplied paper are no longer able to do so and we wondered if anyone else had a small supply of shredded paper they would consider donating to us.

We only use small amounts, about ten to 12 bin bags each week, and we hoped that a smaller organisation might have such an amount they could offer us. We are able to collect it or happy for it to be delivered to us.

Sara Atkinson Secretary, Haworth Animal Welfare (Cat Rescue), The Farm, Lower Pierce Close, Cross Roads

What was Home Rule Club? As chairman of the Keighley and District Local History Society, we are constantly trying to collect as many old documents, photographs, minute books, etc, of the town. I have just received an old balance sheet of The Home Rule Club dated 1968.

Can any one let us know what this club did? Was it a political club? Can we find out when it was formed? When it was closed? We know that it was in Leeds Street, Keighley, and that it sold beer, wines and spirits. Does anyone know if there are still any old minute books, membership cards, bills, photographs, etc?

We know that there were many clubs in Keighley which have ceased to exist, for instance, the Keighley Cage Bird Society, The Keighley Wine Circle, Royal British Legion Club and many more.

We would like to find out if any of their old minute books still exist. Do you have any old books, photographs, etc, of these or other clubs? If so, we would like to borrow them. We have had old letterheads from shops and businesses which have closed down because people may have thought they were no interest. But we have them now.

Many of them are now displayed on our website for all to see: keighleyhistory.org.uk Or why not join our society? Our meetings are held in the Local Studies Library, in Keighley. The doors are open from 7pm.

Details of how to become a member can be obtained from our membership secretary on 01535 600 713 or log on to our website at: keighleyhistory.org.uk. You can also e-mail us at jan@keighleyhistory.org.uk.

L W Brocklesby Eelholme View Street, Beechcliffe, Keighley