Memorials have no place in new church

After reading the Keighley News I must add a few comments to three articles, all concerning the blood-bath of the First World War.

The vandalism to the war memorial in Foster Park, Denholme: are we really surprised at what these mindless yobs get up to? In order to avoid telling the truth and maybe offending minorities, we do not teach our children about the First World War or even the Second World War and the other wars since. We have to be careful in case we cause offence.

So slowly but surely our history is being written out, but what about the truth which so many of us would wish to be taught to our children and our grandchildren. Let them know about the horrors that wars bring, maybe, just maybe then these youngsters might grow up to have some respect.

This then brings me to the new Methodist Church being built in Silsden. Yes it sounds a good thing and I would be all for it, if only the Methodist Church Council had not decided to get rid of the three memorials (one from the former United Bethesda Church of which I attended and one from the former Wesleyan Church, along with the large memorial from the Primitive Methodist Church) which were housed there.

Apparently there will not be any room for these memorials in the new building! Many of our families are represented on the plaques. These men gave their life for this country and to be cast aside now makes me sad and very angry indeed. We are trying at this moment to have them cleaned up and restored and hope that we can install them in the town hall at some future date. My thanks to Councillor Elsmore for his support and also to John Richardson from the website CPGW.co.uk (Cravens Part in the Great War) for his help and support in trying to get the decision overturned and to be able to keep these memorials in the place they truly belong.

The article concerning the Faulkner brothers was just another reason why we should not ever forget to pay homage to our fallen in any war.

Brian Sunderland

Cringles Park, Silsden

Stay away and leave bickering to others

While I try fully believe in the right of the public to comment on and question an elected body and its members, many of the threads posted on the Keighley News website degenerate quickly and either deviate from the original topic to become personal or return to previous “discussions”.

It’s very sad to read “attacks”, while most are probably meant tongue-in-cheek, against individuals.

I always feel that you can only make a real difference from the inside of an organisation.

Maybe I’m naive and being totally unrealistic and should, like many readers of the KN, stay away from these threads and leave the bickering to others. You have to wonder why the editorial team at the KN no longer seem to print Internet comments — maybe there is a distinct lack of worthwhile posts?

Mark Pullen

Thorn Street, Haworth

Plea over timetables on special day

Having just witnessed a very well attended Remembrance Day service in the Town Hall Square, I am particularly disappointed to record that the service was interrupted by several Keighley and District buses.

Surely, on this one special day of the year K&D can adjust their timetables to show respect for those who fell on our behalf.

Eric Rawcliffe

Hollins Lane, Utley

Jeff Smith for Keighley & District Travel responded: “We would like to advise that the road around the Town Hall Square was closed by the police and obviously during this time we diverted any services as requested. We would, however, like to advise that the police opened the roads at approximately 10.50 hours.

“We have the utmost respect for the service that takes place and everything that the service represents.

“We fully understand and feel certain that everyone appreciates the sacrifices given in the past and, indeed, the present time.

“The drivers in Keighley Bus Station at 11.00 hours all observed the two minutes’ silence as a mark of respect.

“We would like to offer assurances that no disrespect or upset was ever intended and we would deeply and sincerely apologise for any that was caused.”

Sexual apartheid marred celebration

Last Friday we had a family trip to Leeds to celebrate our daughter’s engagement.

The pubs and bars we went into were warm and welcoming and many of the staff were genuinely interested in our celebrations.

We then went to a bar which had a door person who refused us entry because none of us were gay.

At first I honestly thought the door staff were joking, but no, because our party included three heterosexual males we were refused entry.

We then went to the bar across the road only to discover that we could get into the bar but the staff made it quite clear that they would not serve us.

I find this quite astonishing given what the gay movement has achieved over the years regarding equal rights and find it has almost an Orwellian feel to it that “some are more equal than others”.

If we turned that scenario on it’s head and gay people were refused entry to bars because of their sexuality there would be uproar and quite rightly so.

How can we as a civilised, tolerant nation allow discrimination purely on the grounds of ones sexual orientation, surely this does a disservice to each and every one of us.

Glenn Jones

Lane Top, Denholme

Mayor's thanks for show of popularity

May I, through your letters’ page, express my sincere thanks to all who attended the town’s Remembrance Parade and Service last Sunday.

There was a larger number of people in the parade than ever before and the vast number in the Town Hall Square was wonderful.

It is always good to remember, but these days we hear of our service men and women making the ultimate sacrifice almost daily. On Sunday I hope that we were, in a small way, able to show the families of those who have died or have been wounded, our solidarity with them. I would also like to thank all those who, over the last two weeks, have sold poppies in the town and all those who have given so generously to the Royal British Legion appeal.

God Bless you all.

Margaret Ward

Town Mayor

Alcohol consumption furore should decline

While I have the greatest respect for Wendy Shackleton’s organisation, Key House, I wonder how appropriate it is for her to write about alcohol issues under its name.

Perhaps they have a policy on alcohol — most organisations seem to busy themselves with this concern these days. I really must take exception, however, to her weighing in to criticise the Keighley News on its coverage of Alcohol Awareness Week.

There are any number of quangos and “charities” already giving me and most sensible citizens a wealth of gratuitous advice. Worse yet, many of the “charities” are fakes, being actually financed in the main part by government or European grants — for which I have already paid. I have also paid for my copy of the Keighley News and in doing so I recognise and accept the editorial judgement exercised therein. In the circumstances I would be grateful if curmudgeons did not attempt to subvert the paper’s objectives in this way.

The Office of National Statistics own figures show that alcohol consumption has been declining since 2002 and so should the furore.

George Speller

Hill Top Road, Keighley