Last updated at 14:16, Thursday, 09 October 2008

SIR – The Government has just recognised the need to outlaw age discrimination in its new Equalities Bill. I congratulate the Government in taking this step forward and listening to the needs of its older citizens – but this legislation must be put into practice as a matter of urgency.

Recent research from Help the Aged shows that many people are worried about how society is going to treat them once they turn 65. This is not surprising.

Ageism is not just about being the butt of jokes and disparaging remarks – it can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. While age discrimination is still legal, older people can be denied access to medical treatment simply because they’re “too old”.

This is a moral outrage in the 21st century. It is simply unacceptable to imply that whilst every other form of discrimination is unacceptable, age discrimination “can wait”. What message does this send out to older people? Why should older people have to put up with discrimination a day longer, when lives and livelihoods are at stake?

This is now an historic opportunity to get ageism outlawed. Please write to Gordon Brown demanding that legislation to ban age discrimination comes into practice as soon as possible at 10 Downing Street, London, SW1. Let’s make him live up to the promises today that he made in his 2007 Party Conference speech when he spoke about ending discrimination.

I would urge people of all ages to support the Help the Aged ‘Just Equal Treatment’ campaign by calling 020 7239 1982 or visiting www.helptheaged.org.uk/takeaction. Time is running out. Please take action on behalf of all older people.

John HARKNESS

Wether Riggs Road Salterbeck

Workington

SIR – I’m sure Magnus Homes were very pleased with the publicity on page 18 of The Whitehaven News (September 25). I’m also sure that every person who has walked past this site on the Whitehaven quayside doesn’t see this building with such rose-tinted spectacles

How on earth did this five-storey “luxury apartment block” get planning permission on such a sensitive site?

The building design of stainless steel and glass does not fit into the character of the Georgian port at all. The finished building on the Magnus Homes website looks awful, yet their slogan is: “An Eye for Design”.

Magnus Homes are also taking over the Park nightclub/Mark House sites and are happy to quote: “Our proposed development will consist of Whitehaven’s first 90-bedroom hotel and residential apartments.”

Will this be of a fitting design just like Pears House? Very probably.

Is the council set on a programme of destroying the character of this town by building taller and more modern-looking buildings? Oh, yes, they already did it with their own offices.

When the new tax office was built, it was insisted that it was in keeping with the area, using local sandstone and slate, as were the facilities block and boat shed on the quayside. What has happened since then?

In a few years time, will Whitehaven have lost its character altogether with a mix of old Georgian and glass and concrete?

Go to York and see the huge mix of building styles and see how a town can lose its character.

Apparently we lost the 2009 Maritime Festival because of the construction work – yes half of the pavement and parking area in front of Pears house has now been ‘absorbed’ into the development!

Who knows what is planned for the other buildings on the quayside – but you can be pretty sure it will have profit in mind and nothing to do with the look of our ancient harbour.

Well done to the planning office and every finger that’s been involved with this.

P McLEAN

Sandwith, Whitehaven

SIR – I felt I had to reply to Elaine Woodburn’s comment on Alan Mossop. I thought this was a free country and you could express your opinion whenever appropriate? If she is running Copeland Council in this manner, then I feel she is wrong.

I’ve been a parish councillor in my time, and I had my say on matters needing someone to speak out.

Keep going, Alan Mossop, or we’ll have a “Yes Miss” council – and it could happen if you are afraid to speak your mind. You are there to represent the people, not the leader.

Grace SLOAN

Fell Dyke, Lamplugh

SIR – This year was the first time in 22 years since the Crab Fair came opposite my property that I have had to call the police

On the Friday, teenage youths ripped the top off my garden wall and threw it in my garden, coming in with it. Of course they were drunk.

Now I write this letter because I cannot praise the police enough, for giving me and my property protection cover from 10am to 10.15pm, on Friday and Saturday, while the fair was running. Many thanks.

Edna THOMPSON

Egremont

SIR – Re the debate regarding jam-eaters. Both my parents’ side dating way back were mining families. One of my grandfathers worked at William Pit, Gt Clifton. The other one lived at Maryport and worked down St Helen’s at Siddick (as also my father did) and also Risehow.

I used to travel by bus on my own from Gt Clifton to stay with my grandfather at Maryport from the age of three years, also during my later school holidays and weekends. He worked at these pits for 55 years and I would sit and listen to the tales he had to tell me of pit life from when he started at 12 years of age. When I stayed with him, I would put his bait up which consisted of bread and jam, sometimes sliced raw onion with a dash of pepper and a bottle of either plain tap water or licquorice water to wash the coal dust from the back of his throat. There never would be any margarine or meat etc in his sandwiches as he said that these would go rancid due to the heat down the pits.

I can’t say what my father took in his bait as he died through gas inhalation at 25 years of age at St Helen’s Colliery, Siddick, in 1940.

I am now nearing 70 years of age, but I vividly remember those tales my grandfather would tell me.

Also, I should say many people throughout the country will have eaten bread and jam during the war years when food was rationed.

When I was a child then, I remember the dripping from the Sunday roast (a rare occasion) would be poured into a basin to set. I would have a choice of that between bread slices (the size of doorsteps, as we used to say), but not allowed margarine or jam together, it had to be either, of course, due to rationing.

Jean SANDERS

Mill Street, Whitehaven

SIR – May I thank all the people involved in the dedication of the memorial seat at Kells Brows in memory of five airmen killed in an air crash in World War Two.

I attended the service with other members of my family, and my mother Mary Greenwood, the sister of Tommy Inman, one of the aircrew. The occasion was extremely moving and brought back many memories for Mary. To quote her: “We were treated like royalty!”

Special thanks go to our main point of contact, Margaret Crosby, but thanks must also go to other members of the Whitehaven Heritage Action Group. Thanks also to the Ladies Committee of the Kells Royal British Legion Club who provided excellent refreshments and a chance to chat and unwind afterwards. Your photographer, Mike McKenzie, went out of his way to put everybody at their ease during a very emotional event.

Last Saturday, we took Mary to visit the museum at RAF Millom, where Tommy had been based. The curator, Glynn Griffith, and his colleagues made sure we had another special day – thank you. Can I suggest that any people who have not visited the museum make sure they do, it is well worth the visit.

Carole BRAMLEY

Farnhill, Keighley

SIR – I was very interested in your report on the crash of the Anson aircraft at Kells and how the kind folk of Kells had a new way to remember the victims.

I was a member of that band of men who travelled up and down the Irish Sea in the old Anson, being based in North Wales. Navigation was a problem, especially at night as then – as now – we didn’t see the stars too often. We had to navigate by the many lighthouses, each of which has a dedicated flashing sequence.

I remember on one occasion I spotted the Keekle viaduct and advised the pilot that I lived in one of the four cottages nearby. We did a quick circuit and waggled our wings but the next time I was on leave no one had seen us!

The Anson was an old aircraft and I suspect that we should have nicknamed it like the poor old Shackleton in later years – “Two millon rivets flying in loose formation!”

Many thanks again to the kind folk of Kells for their kindness.

J KYLES

Church Hill, Hensingham

SIR – With all the controversy over the Prime Minister Mr Brown, with some of his cabinet apparently wanting to get rid of him, I don’t think it matters in so much as the damage has been done in the past for Labour

An example of this is that Mr Brown was not really elected, he was unopposed for the leadership, and this has upset a lot of Labour supporters as this is not a democratic way to govern.

I myself being a Liberal Democrat, like all members, had a legal vote to choose our leader and this is where Labour failed to carry this legally and democratically.

A Government, whoever it is in power, must reach to all the people, not just members of their cabinet, which has to be an open government.

James TAYLOR

Mid-Town Close, Distington

SIR – I live in Fort Myers , Florida, a town on the west coast of Florida. I have lived here for four years and prior to that in Bury, Lancashire. I was, however, born in Whitehaven in 1963 and spent most of my teenage years there before moving away to college. My mother still lives in Low Moresby.

Recently, a technician from the local cable and phone company had reason to visit my home. When he heard our accent he enquired where we come from, to which we replied England. Imagine our surprise when he said that he only knew one place in England and that was Whitehaven!

The technician had been in the US Navy for over 20 years and while serving on the USS Roosevelt had visited Whitehaven as part of the Maritime Festival.

He had gained a very favourable impression of our town and it was a delight to connect with someone who knew my home. It supports that saying: “ It’s a small world”.

Michele OSBORNE

Fort Myers , Florida

SIR – May I again through your letters page, on behalf of all at 2nd Kells St Peters Brownies (charity number 520618), sincerely thank the staff and customers at Tesco in Whitehaven.

We held another charity bag packing event there. Due to the generosity of the customers, in four hours, we managed to raise £321.94.

The money raised will go towards unit funds and Brownie Christmas Camp 2008, which will take place at Ennerdale in November.

All our Brownies had a really fun time, and all the staff especially Vera made the atmosphere fantastic.

In the current financial climate, we realise that money does not go as far as it once did and this makes the amount we raised truly amazing. Thank you once again to all who contributed, we really do appreciate every penny.

Sonia DRYDEN

Brownie Leader

2nd Kells St Peters Brownies

First published at 16:04, Wednesday, 08 October 2008
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk