Inspirational children to invasion of privacy - your views

I would like to point out some serious inaccuracies in your article under the heading Steeton-with-Eastburn Parish Council.

In the article vice-chairman of the parish council, Councillor Su Thompson is quoted as saying: “The existing youth club caters for 7-11-year-olds and 11-13-year-olds but once they turn 13 they are turned out to hang around on the streets.”

Steeton Methodist Youth Club has been in existence for over 20 years and in all that time has never turned out any teenager. The policy is and has always been to split the children into two groups, 7-10s and 10 and over. On occasions we have amalgamated the two groups when numbers have been low but have never turned away any child. We have even helped several teenagers with their Duke of Edinburgh awards, two at present, all of which have been members of the youth club for years.

We have a kitchen, pool table, table tennis, basketball, football and an air hockey table, many of which have been recently replaced thanks to the support of the Community Chest.

The youth club has always been voluntary and we would welcome any parents who wish to help, especially with the older children, subject to a CRB check of course.

The youth club would be more than happy to discuss youth service plans and assist where ever possible but at the present time have not been either approached or consulted by them or the parish council.

Joanne Stokes

Youth Leader

Editor’s note: The story was an accurate and balanced report of what was said at the meeting. There is no criticism of the accuracy of our reportage

Support my quango for privacy invasion

I simply cannot understand the terrible fuss about the “Sex Quiz” issue.

As founder member of my own quango I know that it’s important to gather as much information about people as possible.

It is obviously necessary, for example, that bicycles be made suitable for people who eat cheese and that houses are specially adapted for homosexuals.

Imagine, otherwise, their dismay when such people discover that their new bicycle or house is useless to them!

We can only hope that the need for such intrusive information gathering is rendered obsolete by the Government’s ongoing plans to do the job for us; to compile, collate and codify all your most personal information and then share it with any other busybodies that happen to have a prurient interest in the private details of citizens’ lives.

A good example of data sharing has already been demonstrated in your very own letters page, where a Leeds club which denied entry to your correspondent had clearly already received details of their inapposite sexual proclivities before they arrived.

Top marks to all data-sharers involved! Keep up the good work!

Support my Quango for Unlimited Invasion of Privacy.

George Speller

Hill Top Road, Keighley

This crucial sacrifice is ignored year after year

Two-and-a-half million troops from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh fought in three continents, at Dunkirk, Monte Casino and Far East under the Union Jack.

Yet it seems that this crucial sacrifice and contribution by these brave men goes ignored year after year.

It was so good to see the remembrance day coverage in your paper but as usual there was no mention of these men.

More men than the Canadians, more men than the Australians and Americans, yet not a mention. And that in town where reside thousands of Pakistanis.

The biggest volunteer army in the history goes unmentioned. It seems a sad state of affairs.

Amin Din

Sangat Centre

Sadness at wartime learning

I am a pupil at Long Lee Primary School, in Keighley. I read the letter that Mr Brian Sunderland wrote in the Keighley News last week.

I would like to say that we have been learning for the past few weeks all about the Second World War and I have taken photographs and other things in for our display.

My class found it all very interesting and also very sad.

Eve Holt

aged eight

Children and teachers were inspirational

May I through the Keighley News offer my thanks and appreciation to Sutton County Primary schoolchildren, who came along quietly with their teacher and headmistress to pay homage and observe the two minutes’ silence, at Sutton Park memorial, on November 11, 2009.

This followed the very well attended memorial service on Sunday, November 9, by the whole community.

Both teachers spoke briefly but eloquently to the children about the sacrifices that had been made and the young male teacher read “We Shall Remember”. The children stood quietly and showed great respect.

Both teachers are young, they will no doubt have their own private thoughts on war; today they and the children were very dignified in honouring all who have lost their lives.

There is much negative press regarding the behaviour by the young, because only the “bad news” sells. Today I witnessed the other side, which never makes the headlines.

My sincere thanks to Sutton County Primary School schoolchildren and teachers — you were inspirational.

Mrs F Birtwhistle

The Crofts, Sutton in Craven

Bravo to Balti

Last week we went to the charity night at the Balti House restaurant, in Keighley.

We read so many stories about racial tension in Keighley that it was great to see different cultures celebrating a great evening together. Thanks to Zamir and all the Balti House staff.

Phil and Kate Corp

Rowan Garth, Sutton-in-Craven,

Station was an absolute disgrace

Keighley Station was a disgrace on Sunday mid-morning.

There was litter on the platforms and the waiting room was an absolute disgrace with rubbish left all over the benches and liquids split on to the floor. And a few people were smoking on the platform also, despite it being illegal.

This does not leave a good impression for visitors who come from all over the world to visit Brontë Country.

As the waiting room has CCTV, can’t the images be reviewed and pictures of the culprits published in local papers for information regarding their names etc, so that they can be fined?

It’s not acceptable for myself and my family, including my four-year-old daughter to see such a mess while traveling though Keighley.

Steve Pedlar

Farley Crescent, Oakworth

Sharing an unusual story

We read stories of children that are not always good, this letter is about children who care. I attend the local school as a support in Lit/Maths, have done so for many ears in my retirement.

This morning in class there was some money left at the side of the computer, on inquiring as to who the money belonged to nobody knew but this money on full view had been there for over a day. How easy it would have been for the money to disappear.

As the lesson this morning was on Remembrance Day, I suggested I put it into a poppy appeal box, they agreed, and also some of the children gave me more money to add to the first amount.

I felt very proud to know Class 6, at Ingrow School, for the honest, thoughtful children they are. I wanted to share this story as usually it’s another sort of story we hear about.

Margaret Renwick

Waverley Avenue, Sandbeds, Keighley

Call for playground in Laycock

I see that big awards have been made to improve many local playgrounds around the area. A figure of £1,000,000 has been quoted for the Bradford area. Why, oh why, can new playgrounds not be made in areas which don't have one?

Laycock village is desperate for such a playground. There is just no area at all where the children of Laycock can play and yet it is a village with more green fields around it than any other I know. Yes, a few do have animals in them but very few and the bulk of them are just empty fields.

It would be wonderful for everyone in Laycock if such a playground could be made. At the present time, the children have to play on roads which have many cars parked on them and one of these days, there’s going to be a bad accident.

Mrs l Davies

Hill Clough Grove, Laycock