Vulgar 40's weekend to postal complaints - your views (From Keighley News)

Vulgar 40's weekend to postal complaints - your views

8:07am Thursday 28th May 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(8)

Sight I never want to see again

On Saturday, May 16, 2009, I visited Haworth for the 1940s weekend, coming on a coach trip with some 27 other people.

While having an ice cream in the Edinburgh Woollen Mill shop’s café, an elderly lady came to sit at our table. She was on another coach and was accompanied by another elderly lady. The first lady was visibly distressed. I made polite conversation as to ascertain the cause of the distress.

It transpired that these two ladies had travelled from the Runcorn area to see the 1940s weekend at Haworth. While walking around Haworth the ladies had stopped four men dressed in Nazi SS uniforms! The first lady was shocked and very upset at seeing the sight of Nazi SS uniforms.

Once calmed, she went on to explain that she was Jewish and that her grandparents’ family had come to England to escape the Nazi regime. She had been born in England as had been her parents. Therefore, she and her parents had not experienced her grandparents’ problems. However, some members of her grandparents’ family never came out of Germany, they perished in the camps!

The sight of these Nazi SS uniforms visibly upset this lady and I am sure you can understand the reason.

We do not know who the organisers of the event are and so I thought that I would write to you. Perhaps you know the organisers and please pass this letter to them, thank you.

Naturally, I realise that the organisers did not know who would be visiting the event. However, the Nazi SS uniforms were not necessary and really in extremely bad taste! Seeing Nazi SS uniforms in a small English country town was not a sight that I would ever want to see again.

Martyn Swade

Park Road West, Southport.

A vulgar exercise

I’d like to thank Ralph Butcher and Ian Dewhirst for their letters on the Haworth 1940s weekend — they expressed my feelings precisely. Haworth’s businesses should be ashamed at profiting from this vulgar exercise: creating an arena for Nazi imitators to parade around in SS regalia. The fascist BNP, famed for race hate and violence and denying the reality of the Holocaust, is attempting to win a seat in this region in the June European elections; in this context the vile spectacle was even more irresponsible.

Lesley McGorrigan

Shipley

Right to re-enact history

After reading last week’s ‘Letter of the Week’ by Mr Ralph M Butcher regarding German re-enactors at 1940s events, I was compelled to reply. It was good of you to allow Mr Butcher the opportunity to air his views, now I hope you will permit me to do the same.

I have been taking part in 1940s events for five years now, principally as a German and also recently as an Italian serviceman. After several years of watching the event at my home village of Haworth from the sidelines, I decided to take the plunge. During the 2002 event, what struck me most, was the sheer volume of RAF and American uniforms present. 1940s Civilians were in very short supply and members of the Axis forces were non-existent. It seemed that the event could do with a little more variety.

However, what prompted me to don the uniform of the ‘enemy’ was a question I accidentally overheard a young boy ask his father. “Daddy” he asked, “What’s all this about?” When his father explained that it was a special event depicting the events of the Second World War when Britain and her allies fought against the Germans, the young lad replied, “So where are the Germans then?”

Before deciding upon what German uniform to procure, my primary concern was to ascertain if such a uniform would cause offence, particularly to those who had lived through the conflict, the veterans in particular. Fortunately, as a member of both the Royal British Legion and the Royal Air Forces Association, I was ideally placed to obtain the necessary feedback. All of the ex-servicemen I asked were perfectly happy for me to portray a member of the opposition, the only unexpected proviso being that the uniform had to be accurate in every respect. One gentleman told me, “You’ll be re-enacting history son, so make sure you get it right!”

The uniform took the best part of a year to acquire, after weeks of careful research and a great deal of needlework. However, I readily admit to being extremely nervous that first morning when I took to the streets dressed as a Lieutenant Colonel of the Waffen SS. Regardless of the questions I had asked veterans, elderly friends and colleagues (not to mention my great aunt), I could not shake those initial nerves. How wrong I was! Within minutes, the response from other re-enactors and the public was not only entirely positive, but also very encouraging. What followed was two days of endless questions and photographs. In particular, grandparents who had brought their grandchildren to give them a real experience of wartime life were pleased that both sides of the conflict were present, in order that the youngsters could see the period in its entirety. These days, there are many who feel that the average school curriculum does not include the more valuable and important parts of Britain’s history.

Sadly, like most things these days, 1940s weekends have now fallen prey to the powers of ‘political correctness’. With their trademark sharp intake of breath, shaking of the head and wringing of hands, the ‘PC Brigade’ are quick to point out that it’s highly likely that the German re-enactors will no doubt cause someone serious offence and should therefore be banned from all 1940s events. Perhaps they would also like to ban the likes of ‘Allo, Allo’, ‘Where Eagles Dare’ and ‘A Bridge Too Far’ from our TV screens next?

Waffen SS re-enactors had a particularly mixed season last year after a controversial TV journalist questioned their presence and even their motives for attending 1940s events. The programme he made was later discredited in the national press. German re-enactors were accused of everything from ‘strutting’ along railway platforms, giving Nazi salutes and even deliberately orchestrating trouble at events. Nothing, especially the latter, could be further from the truth. And seeing as most battle re-enactments at these events include a mixture of both German and Waffen SS participants, event organisers would be pretty lost without them!

Fortunately, the majority of enthusiasts and re-enactors within the 1940s movement, have little or no time for ‘politically correctness’. The majority see the Germans for what they are, part and parcel of the 1940s experience and nothing more. Re-enactors, both Allied and Axis, bring to life a period in history that until now could only be seen behind the sterile plate glass of museums. And although some events choose to refuse admission to German re-enactors, they are definitely in a minority.

I have enclosed a number of pictures of a selection of 1940s events, where German re-enactors were made welcome. On one occasion, I was fortunate enough to meet another highly decorated veteran of the Parachute Regiment who had served at Arnhem. Whilst having a beer together, he told me that the uniform I was wearing brought back many happy memories. When I enquired why he replied, “Because I got a good number of your lot with my Bren Gun!”

Therefore I conclude with the simple fact that the German re-enactors present at Haworth last weekend were just that – re-enactors. They are ordinary men and women who are happy to play the ‘bad guys’ of the era. They are an integral part of every 1940s weekend and they always will be. They are not neo-Nazis, nor do they hold any extreme political views or sympathies. As for Mr Butcher – I would suggest he gets out a little more often!

Andrew Quickmire

Sergeants’ Mess RAF Uxbridge Uxbridge

Disgusting uniforms

I refer to your 'Letter of the Week' in last weeks Keighley News regarding Neo Nazis strutting around Haworth in their tailor made uniforms. I totally agree with both of your correspondents. I was shocked to see the amount of men 'dressed up' in these disgusting uniforms. I can remember the 40s weekend I attended a few years ago when I only saw one man dressed in a German uniform, looking very subdued and being booed by people walking past! This year there seemed to be more Nazi than Americans/British uniforms.

My father, who served in the Cheshire Regiment during the Second World war, would have been deeply saddened by such a sight. I was told by other people who attended the weekend that they saw an obvious WW11 veteran, selling poppies, with tears in his eyes.

I can't believe that the Haworth traders Association are happy to condone this behaviour by sick people that obviously saw the Holocaust as a 'good laugh'. We should be teaching our children about the horrors of war and the Nazi slaughter of six million innocent men, women and children.

I hear there is going to be a 60s weekend in Haworth soon, will it be alright to go dressed as Myra Hindley or Ian Brady?(The Moors Murderers) or what about having a 70s weekend, we could go dressed as Peter Sutcliffe (Yorkshire Ripper). You might think that is in bad taste but I for one can't see the difference between those mass murders and the Gestapo.

I probably won't attend another Haworth 40s weekend unless I hear there will be a ban on anyone wearing Nazi uniforms.

PAT WILLIAMS

Keighley

Decling expenses

The furore over expenses of MPs has reminded me of the selfless work as public representatives freely given by borough council members throughout the 19th and 20th centuries and which was never properly appreciated by those who benefited from their foresight in the provision of public works – such as the provision of an adequate water supply.

As borough education officer in the Sixties and Seventies I had good reason to know that both Alderman John Taylor (later Lord Ingrow) and Alderman Noel Johns declined to accept any expenses arising from their chairmanship of the education committee — indeed they completed their long term of office as aldermen without availing themselves of what was their due.

They realised, of course, that this was because they were financially in a position to make this stand but that did not prevent them from acknowledging that others were unable to make the gesture and that they were rightfully reimbursed for their costs — and (just as important) their time in serving the people of the town they loved.

Perhaps the town council could at some time in the future arrange for tribute to be paid for all these men and women. An appropriate time would be an anniversary of one of their great achievements, eg, the completion of Watersheddles reservoir or the completion of electric lighting in every street.

Frank Pedley,

Gisburn Road, Hellifield, Skipton.

Parking restrictions ignored

Having just read your article “I will go to prison over parking row” I feel Ms Muldoon is very unlucky working in an area regularly patrolled by parking officers and perhaps she should consider coming to work in Silsden where parking restrictions are completely ignored by everyone.

I live on Keighley Road on the double white line system on the canal bridge and back in 1970s and 80s when we had a police force in Silsden if you parked there even just to unload your shopping you would receive a parking fine and three points on your licence. However, in the last seven years since I returned to live on Keighley Road you can park on the double white lines day and night 24/7 and have no fear of any penalties.

In the past I have rung Keighley police but they do not seem to understand the road markings, one lady officer said it was ok to park on them at night and another said it was ok to park on the broken side (neither were correct). I have spoken to Silsden’s community police officers but they have no authority to deal with parking fines (really useful). In January of this year workmen came and lowered the kerbs to facilitate parking between the pub and fish and chip shop, incredible! I would love to know who ordered and paid for that to happen ?

Perhaps Bradford Met could let Silsden have a civil enforcement officer for a couple of hours a week as the problems extend all the way through the village, surely with the money Silsden contributes to its coffers we deserve at least that.

Janet Burgess

Keighley Road, Silsden

Something is clearly amiss

My wife and I realised we had periods of time, maybe as many as four days in a row, without any mail whatsoever — which these days is very unusual and this caused me to investigate further.

I contacted a sender and found a cheque I had been awaiting had been posted some 20 days before and which I had not received and so I dug deeper and found copies of family documents sent by my sister were missing, then an appointment and finally a monthly magazine.

These I reported as missing items to Royal Mail earlier in May. I also spoke to my neighbours and they say they have also have experienced some difficulties.

Now I read in the Keighley News, Mr B Harford’s comments asking if anyone else in his area are having problems. As I live not far away from him I can definitely say Yes I am.

Of course Royal Mail’s reply says they cannot trace any items sent first or second class mail which I fully understand but they also deny any knowledge of any problems within the area.

I think they now need to look a little closer as something is clearly amiss.

Mr Grenville Shuttleworth.

Nessfield Road, Exley Head.

Given up with postal service

We have sympathy with Bryan Harford regarding the problems with his post.

During the first three months of the current calendar year we had four items which were never delivered to the recipients. Two of these were checked for current postage and handed in at our local Post Office and the remaining two were posted at a nearby post-box.

Several weeks ago I handed in a small parcel of items made by my wife for a local charity and obtained a ‘receipt of posting’ - these never reached their destination. A complaints form, obtained from our PO, (showing a claim for £7 to cover materials only) was completed and sent to the appropriate address with the ‘proof of posting’.

This produced no response or acknowledgement. Several ‘phone calls were made and eventually we spoke to someone who said the £7 would not be paid but some stamps would be sent.

Needless to say, these have never been received - I have given up!

Great service!!!

Mr and Mrs J Galvin Dradishaw Road, Silsden

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(8)