Readers' letters

I am writing to you as Chorley’s First Citizen to ask for support from the local community for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal.

The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support for the Armed Forces community – serving men and women, veterans, and their families.

The legion spends millions on welfare services and its beneficiaries are growing annually due to recent conflicts.

From just a small donation of £5, a handrail can be installed for someone who has been badly injured, to a collective donation of £80,000, which can fund a complete refurbishment of a bedroom at one of the legion’s many Poppy Homes.

The success of the Poppy Appeal relies on the committed support of its volunteers and the overwhelming generosity of the public.

This year’s appeal runs from October 29 to November 13 and I write to seek the continued support from the people of Chorley.

Coun Doreen Dickinson

Mayor of Chorley

nostalgia

Volunteers had a great time

Re: your photo in the Guardian of the new hospital shop opening (Guardian October 18).

I would like to tell you of the great time the volunteers had working there.

I remember helping Kath Beisly way back in the 1960s. We had a tea trolley, a couple of flasks of hot water, cups and biscuits.

It was taken round the clinics each day.

That was the beginning, then we got our first shop where the chapel is.

It was run by Josie Waddilove and our many volunteers.

We had great comradeship. Some are still doing it today.

We still meet from time to time.

Sadly, Mabel Alker in the photo has passed on.

Then we got the new shop and it has just gone from strength to strength.

Time moves on but the volunteers still run it, which is good to see.

Barbara Woodcock

Coppull

nhs

Staff doing an amazing job

I have just spent two weeks in Chorley Hospital, firstly, overnight in the Medical Assessment Unit and subsequently on Hazlewood ward.

The treatment, care and kindness shown by the very overworked staff, at all levels, has been of the very highest standard.

I have been treated with respect and dignity and am truly grateful for their professionalism and compassion.

Thank you so much, you’re doing an amazing job !

Ann Preston via email

transport

Here’s a win-win situation

I have an idea for addressing the problems of childhood obesity and parking mayhem around schools and help cash- strapped councils.

There should be red line road markings for a 200m radius centred on all schools and councils should charge parents £52 per year for a pick-up/drop-off permit.

The result would be more kids would have to walk to school, or at least walk 800m a day, councils or schools would get some money to spend, and residents who live adjacent to schools would be able to access their drives.

Traffic in general will be eased during the twice daily school run rush hour, saving journey times and reducing air pollution and it would get parents exercising as well.

A win, win, win situation.

R Spreadbury

via email

MONEY

We must not forget Fry

The other day, I was given an old £5 note showing Elizabeth Fry, a Quaker. Her extraordinary life is not well remembered. The Quaker movement began in the 17th century with the visionary George Fox.

Unlike the hierarchical ‘church’, they sit in silence as equals, to focus on God within. Anyone inspired by that focus can speak.

The name Quaker was coined in ridicule, when Fox had the courage to tell the taunting King Charles that he should “quake” before Almighty God.

Charles had many Quakers tortured, imprisoned and martyred, but before Elizabeth was born in 1780, they’d found ways to pacify the state, and Elizabeth shared her empathy among prisoners in the horrendous London jails. Her nursing school later inspired the work of Florence Nightingale and, after her death in 1845, the Lord Mayor of London helped establish an asylum for the destitute.

Her likeness on the £5 note was an insufficient but fitting tribute to one of the greatest heroines this country has ever known. Now, that note shows only the plastic likeness of one of the greatest warmongers this country has ever known.

I take that as a warning.

But, meanwhile, we must 
never forget Elizabeth Fry.

Beryl Williams via email

WORLD WAR

Searching for WW1 relatives

I am a volunteer with Aldridge Great War Project. We are trying to find as many relatives of Aldridge men and women who served in the First World War, in order that we may honour their stories in a non-profit book to be published in 2018.

The relatives may well have left Aldridge (then in Staffordshire) so we are trying to reach them through local newspapers in the hope we may find those missing from our research.

Karen Ross, c/o 270 Walsall Wood Road, Aldridge, Walsall, West Midlands, WS9 8BH, 
http://aldridgegreatwar.

org.uk

energy

We need an alternative

I cannot comment on fracking as I don’t know enough about it.

However, I can comment on the reason for trying to get an alternative source of fuel to power this country.

Fuel prices are going to rise dramatically within the next decade, and we have to find an alternative, of which fracking is only one. Do you want to see fuel costing four or five times what it costs now, because it will happen if an alternative supply is not found?

This Government is ploughing billions of pounds into a process taking place at Drax power station in Yorkshire, it is a process to take carbon from coal leaving nice clean gas.

It is called carbon capture and storage and, if successful, will secure a supply of clean gas for many, many years to come.

Also, the technology will be worth billions and billions of pounds, so don’t rabbit on about Jeremy Corbyn taking a public stance against fracking. In fact, ask what his plans are to find us an alternative fuel supply – you can bet he won’t have one.

Bruce Allen via email

entertainment

Jimmy, you made us laugh

Sad news of the death of Jimmy Perry but what a legacy!

He overcame my dad’s long-term resistance to having a TV set in the house.

One evening, on a visit to friends, he and mum saw an early episode of Dad’s Army. Two days later, Radio Rentals arrived with a half-ton box of valves, transformers and cathode ray tube. Dad was hooked, and his great-grandchildren now laugh at Captain Mainwaring and company’s timeless antics. Thanks Jimmy.

ME Wright, address supplied

via email