Last updated at 11:22, Thursday, 14 June 2012

SIR – What a delight it was to see the Union Jack flying from Braystones Tower over the Diamond Jubilee weekend – and for the tower to be lit at night.

striking tower: Diamond Jubilee celebrations at Braystones Tower

Tony Sharp of Holme Croft Farm, Braystones (my brother!) was responsible for this wonderful spectacle; no mean feat as the tower is now completely hollow, though the outer walls are still quite sound.

He used scaffolding poles to construct a 45ft flagpole, set up floodlights, installed a generator and erected an electric fence to keep livestock away. A magnificent effort and very effective.

The tower was built to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 so very apt that it took its place in Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond celebrations over a century later.

Gillian E MOORE

Eaglesfield

SIR – In a weekend that celebrated countrywide the jubilee of 60 years of our Queen, I am disgusted by the lack of effort of both the Copeland Council and also the Egremont Parish Council to celebrate this event. In Egremont not one piece of bunting flag or even encouragement was made by either council to celebrate this great event. A few of our shops and particularly the British Legion did make some effort and around the town several residents did put up bunting and flags but I would of thought at least in the Main Street one of the councils would have some effort.

It’s time this tired lot resigned and let some fresh blood with ideas take over.

Dennis HOLLYMAN

Church View, Egremont

SIR – I would like to extend my thanks to Mr Richardson and his team for, once again, a brilliant festival. I am so pleased to see it will be happening again next year.

I do have a question for Copeland. As it was the weekend of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, where was the street bunting? Apart from some businesses in town, there was nothing. We have the Olympic torch coming to the town, the Olympics to celebrate and “some football thing”. So come on, Copeland, have you no patriotism? Thank goodness for Mr Richardson.

Y THOMAS

Cleator Moor

SIR – During the Jubilee week a gang of youths stole one of my Union Jack flags hanging outside my house. There’s no hiding the fact: you are on camera and the police have been informed. So, the only way to prevent further trouble, is to return my flag to my house as this was not clever.

James TAYLOR

Mid Town Close, Distington

SIR – At the Whitehaven Festival, Red 10, leader of the Red Arrows team, praised the people of Whitehaven and with them the owners of boats in the marina for their (I think he said ‘patriotic’) display of red, white and blue.

I guess he was too polite to mention that many – well, several – of the Union Jacks in the marina and around the harbour were flying upside down. There are several around the town and along the roads upside down too.

Name and address withheld

First published at 11:07, Thursday, 14 June 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk