Heritage pushed into a corner

Pupils and staff of Our Lady of Victories School are to be commended for having taken Keighley’s “fire and wheels” sculpture under their wing but its effective removal from public view still touches a raw nerve.

How is it that if we follow Bradford’s well-publicised sculpture trail we are invited – quiet rightly — to admire a big stone clock and a huge steel needle, neither of which seems uniquely relevant to Bradford, whereas a symbol of Keighley’s industrial heritage is first pushed into a corner then banished to a suburban school yard?

Meanwhile, our Giant Rombald stands ankle-deep in dirty cups and saucers, while the soldier on our War Memorial has for many years been minus the blade of his bayonet and the lower half of his rifle-sling, making him look silly.

But then again, how many Keighley people actually notice such things?

Ian Dewhirst,

Raglan Avenue, Keighley

Consequences of breaking law

I write to emphasise that I do believe in the need to uphold the laws of the land in which we live. I want to believe that those laws are a reflection of the values that we hold dear and that the laws are there to protect us all; especially the weak from the strong.

I believe that these laws should apply to governments as well as citizens. If I know of a citizen who is breaking the law I can always call the police to intervene.

However, if the government is following policies which are unlawful and/or immoral then whom am I to turn to, especially if the particular set of policies appears to be enshrined in the very psychic of the nation.

I believe that the continued possession and deployment of nuclear weapons falls into this category. Since 1945 none of us can say that we do not know of the results of exploding these weapons of mass destruction. Yet they continued to be used as the so-called deterrent which, in reality means threatening civilians with mass murder, mass destruction and long term genetic damage. That is what our so-called defence policy is based upon.

In any time of change, laws can also change and that which was once lawful can become unlawful. When we think of the beginnings of the civil rights movement in the USA and those black Americans who sat on seats reserved for white people in buses and cafés, they were in their time breaking the law.

The election of a black President would not have been possible without those initial unlawful actions; they were vital in bringing about change. So we do not have to return to the history of the suffragettes, rights of trade unionists or children in mines to have evidence of the need to protest in a wide variety of ways — breaking the law being only part.

Last week it was holocaust day and holocausts continue. The consequences of modern military might being used in Gaza is there for all to see. The use of nuclear weapons would result in a holocaust and what is happening in Gaza has far too many similarities with what happened in Germany.

Such weaponry does not and can never reflect the real values which we hold so dear. No weapon invented has not at sometime been used.

To speak and act against the prevailing policies of might must help to create a way forward for a future without nuclear fear. In the meantime, those of us prepared to break the law must take the consequences and bring that peace we are all trying to achieve.

Even Barach Obama cannot do it by himself.

Sylvia Boyes

Wimborne Drive, Keighley

Two tier system of care

I am writing to voice an air of concern about the NHS, which I believe is an honourable institution, but I think there exists a two tier system in Keighley.

I will explain my concern. My wife, who is 93, and has a serious heart complaint has been refused a monthly visit from a doctor. She is expected to travel to the surgery. When she could, we travelled by taxi at a lot of expense. My wife’s complaint has deteriorated now, making motor transport impossible.

I fought for King and country as a paratrooper in the SecondWorld War, my wife did her bit as well. We were promised medical care from the cradle to the grave. But some elements in the said NHS have forgotten about the care and concentrate on the grave. It makes their quiet and organised lives more organised. The old, frail and sick suffer at this idealism.

The same people paid over the years their tax pounds to put these people through universities. I finish with these words, something must be done and done soon.

J P Morrisroe, West Lane, Keighley.

What we should strive for

I was surprised and dismayed at the recent comments made by Kris Hopkins concerning Greenhead High school.

He forgot to mention that as leader of the council since 2005 he should ultimately be held to account for the slow demise in the academic results at the school, rather than just singling out the parents.

How can we as a community not recognise that this is just another political ploy being made by the aspiring parliamentarian candidate for the Conservatives to win votes, rather than to publicly acknowledge his and the authorities failure to address the declining achievements, not just at Greenhead High, but also within other grammar schools within the district. While I welcomed some of the comments made by our MP Ann Cryer, I disagreed with the views that the reason for the high percentages of children not able to speak English was due to the number of marriages between British born adults to adults from abroad.

I speak this with authority as a British born adult whose parents were not able to converse in English but managed to support all their children through their education with love, pride and encouragement. This view was echoed by Greenhead High’s head, Tricia McCarthy, and that is what we as local residents should strive for in order to improve our children’s academic achievements and therefore better their prospects in employment.

Mrs K Akthar

Keighley (address supplied)

Right help at right time

As a supporter of The National Autistic Society (NAS), I am very worried about the lack of help available to adults with autism.

Autism is a lifelong condition, yet as “I Exist”, the new report from the NAS has found, many adults with the disability struggle to get the help they so desperately need. Many feel isolated and ignored and are entirely dependent on their families for support. I want to see the right services and support in place so people with autism can reach their true potential — the right help at the right time can have a profound effect.

That is why I’m supporting the NAS “think differently about autism” campaign. I urge people to visit think-differently.org.uk and help put pressure on local and national government to do more to transform the lives of adults with autism.

Julie Nowell

Church Street, Skipton

Steve - a pillar of excellence

Last week at a meeting of Keighley Churches Together, our very long-serving secretary, Steven Tunstall, retired after nearly 20 years wonderful service.

He is a by-word for efficiency and good order, which is naturally much needed when church dignitaries, or those who feel that they are, gather together in meetings.

Steven is a man of invariable good humour and continued to be a pillar of excellent organisation, even in the face of an increasing deafness.

He has been the guiding light of his own church, initially the United Reformed Church, in Spencer Street, as its secretary, and latterly at Fell Lane URC Church, where they will continue to receive his avuncular guidance.

During his reign the churches under his secretaryship have learned (slowly) to work together much more efficiently for which he must claim a great deal of the credit.

Like many pillars of excellence he will be replaced by two or even three others to cover all the many aspects of churches working together in Keighley. He deserves a very peaceful retirement.

DAVID MILLER

Long term treasurer of Keighley Churches Together (but not as long as Steven’s reign),

Cliffe Mill Fold, East Morton

Vandalism by dog owners

I’m sure that most dog owners around Silsden, Kildwick and Farnhill are responsible people. Yet a significant number within their ranks regularly commit gross acts of vandalism when they take their pets out for a walk. I refer of course to those canine lovers who dutifully scoop their pooch’s poop into a plastic bag and hang it from the nearest tree for all to see. What on Earth is going through their heads — do they think they are performing some kind of public service? To those who are guilty of this disgusting practice I say this: why go to the trouble of scraping up dog faeces if you are unwilling to dispose of it properly? Far better to let the mess bio-degrade naturally instead of bagging it and dumping it where it will remain visible for an eternity.

Speaking of vandalism, my walk on Farnhill Moor the other day was spoiled when I saw what had been done to the Jubilee monument. It beggars belief that someone would work so hard and so pointlessly to hack off all that plaster, but I assume that is what happened. All that rubble strewn around — I would have needed a 4x4 and several sacks to remove it. Might I ask the Keighley News to alert whoever is responsible for organising a clean-up and to let us know if volunteers are required?

Paul Lockey

South View Terrace, Silsden

Concern over hospital meals changes

We feel greatly concerned about the plan to change the catering facility at Airedale Hospital.

We understand that consideration is being given for the contract to be awarded to a company which would provide pre-prepared meals which need warming up in a microwave or oven — similar to those provided by the charter airlines.

The meals are made up in North Wales and sent to Leeds and from there to Bradford. They are then sent to Airedale — making them much more expensive to provide than the home-made food which Airedale presently produces.

We are told that the decision still has to be finalised. Would it not be better to update and refurbish the current kitchens so that at least we have something to be proud of in the hospital, as well as the superb quality meals provided?

Among our members we have experienced the catering services offered by Airedale and believe it would be a travesty to discontinue this in favour of a modern concept in catering as opposed to good wholesome freshly prepared food.

The Patients Council at Farfield

Group Practice, West Lane, Keighley,