Reader’s letters – Friday 16 August 2013 – Lancashire Evening Post

Alston – long may you remain

I am writing with reference to Your Say (LEP, July 3), in which you showed a lovely colour image of Alston Hall, near Longridge, and printed a letter in respect of the college’s reunion on June 22.

It was good to read the Alston Hall College reunion was so successful, in respect of students who attended in the 1960s and 1970s.

I read this with particular interest as my own memories from the 1970s are good ones indeed.

I recall the excellent wardenship of Jack Lightfoot, later so successfully augmented by his wife, Ann.

I attended music courses at that time, and those given by Peter Gellhorn were exceptional, and with an end of course bonus in the form of piano recitals given by Peter himself.

Eventually l worked abroad but it was gratifying, on return, to be asked to perform at Alston – with the fine accompaniment of Frank Salter.

The college has a longstanding inherited reputation now – and is also set in very fine grounds which provide a natural aesthetic environment for all the courses and daily activities.

Vive Alston! – long may you remain!

Christine Jaritz Wilson via email

Uneven roads are a danger

I wonder if Lancashire County Council could be persuaded to issue their road/pavement workers with a spirit level?

We have quite a few small grids here, four out of five just outside of the retirement home and near a bus stop.

None of them are completely level with the pavement.

My husband and a few others have had nasty falls over them, and it has taken my husband three months to recover.

We are in our late seventies and the people in the retirement home are even older.

Those who can walk are not very supple.

Mrs M B Bentley, Hesketh Bank

EU taking our power away

To anyone who still thinks our Coalition Government actually has the power to govern the UK (and that goes for the previous Labour and Conservative administrations), they should think again.

Last week, as part of an ongoing propaganda campaign, the EU stated that, in the near future, the EU flag will appear on the birth certificates of all who are born within the member states, just as it does on our passports.

Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, has stated we are powerless to do anything about it as it is written into the Lisbon Treaty Gordon Brown signed while he was Labour Prime Minister.

And also the European Union has now announced that “made in” country of manufacture tags will be banned in the near future.

No doubt to be replaced with “made in the EU”!

While we continue to have our powers and sovereignty slowly, but surely, stripped away, David Cameron does nothing to stop it, other than spout the usual nonsense about repatriating powers and promising a referendum.

But only if he gets re-elected and then not until 2017.

In accordance with the Lisbon Treaty, many new powers will come into effect, and by 2017 I suspect we will be powerless to do anything, which is why Cameron is doing nothing.

Philip Griffiths

North West chairman

UK Independence Party

Calling those who served

There is nothing like a letter to the editor, to arouse comment, controversy, criticism, and co-operation and, in the case of a recent letter I sent to the LEP, confirmation and contact.

The HMS Collingwood Association is trying to reunite those who served at the massive shore establishment in Hampshire.

Readers will remember the letter because I made reference to the fact that Hitler tried to sink the Shore Base!

The letter was not only read, but cut out and sent to relatives in other parts of the country and even across the world.

So who are we looking for?

Anybody who served at HMS Collingwood from its first day in 1940 to the present day, all trades and professions who were behind those Pearly Gates and would like to make another visit. Maybe to see how things have changed, to witness today’s training methods, and/or to meet up with a past shipmate?

And planned for the future?

A visit back to HMS Collingwood to that huge parade ground for ‘something special’.

If any readers served at HMS Collingwood and would like details of the association, write to the membership secretary Peter Lacey, Heathfield, Lapford, Crediton, Devon, EX17 6PZ or email him at placey58@btinternet.com

What story do you have to tell? (one which can be printed in the Association’s magazine).

The bombing? The King’s visit? The Queen’s Visit? The Training? Your mess mates? Rehearsing and attending a parade in London? Food? The instructors? Your other ships?

I am ready for another deluge of emails or mail, after publication. Please mention this newspaper because I have been asked by editors for ‘the local story’ element from my letters.

And as I promised before, bring this letter with you to a reunion and I will buy you a tot!

We have a very strong committee working for you, but we need you to contact us first.

Once again, thank you LEP, “The Powerful Press”.

Mike Crowe, HMS Collingwood Association chairman

Claims court is free for some

Re: Leyland call centre workers take row to tribunal (LEP August 15), I sympathise greatly with these workers, but I am afraid they should have joined a trade union. If ever there was a time for workers to organise collectively it is now.

Remember, unity is strength.

shuttlemaker via LEP website