WHEN I was a lad it was woe betide me, and anyone else, if I/they did not come to a full stop on the bike when I/they reached the top of Green Lane, Acomb, where there was a prominent “Halt” sign.

The imposing, threatening sight of the local bobby was always somewhere about and the prospect of a half-crown fine was a real deterrent to us all, it was serious money then.

This memory is brought about by your article about the tragic, 1945 aircraft crash upon the unfortunate villagers of Tockwith who believed the wartime danger to be over.

A mention is made of “the police house” and the bravery of the bobby concerned and I was reminded of the fact that many villages did, indeed, have their own policeman - but how many?

The only other one of which I have a memory, was Flaxton, a very small village indeed.

He was named Willis and I know because his son, Brian (Fatty) Willis spent four or five years with me at Nunthorpe Grammar School between 1940 and 1955.

Where are you now, Fatty?

But the question is, how many more local policemen were there in those, much more secure, days? Which villages?

Phil Fowler, Bramble Dene, Woodthorpe, York

 

A HUG shows you care – and at St Leonard’s Hospice we will have a hug all of our own on Thursday, October 8, when it will be surrounded by its friends.

Please come and join staff, volunteers and supporters at the hospice in Tadcaster Road and join hands around the building at 11am on Thursday, October 8 and give it a hug. The event marks national Hospice Care Week, with this year’s theme ‘Connecting Care’.

Among those already signed up for the hug, which will involve at least 300 people, are the mascots from York City, York City Knights, Minster FM and the hospice’s own Lenny Bear.

City of York Council has generously agreed to provide an hour’s free parking at the car park adjacent to Tesco’s Askham Bar store (the former Park&Ride car park) from 10.45am, as parking at the hospice is reserved for patients’ visitors.

Please come along and join us next Thursday. We need lots of people to make this happen. Look forward to seeing you all then.

Dawn Clements, Director of fundraising, St Leonard’s Hospice, Tadcaster Road, York

 

A HOLGATE resident criticised (Letters, September 30) the “scar” which was installed across Hobmoor, accompanied by “ridiculous cycle wrecking contraptions” at the access points to this stray. The path is an invaluable part of York’s orbital cycle route. It is well used for many journeys, and its safe links helps to reduce school run car traffic on local roads.

The all-weather surface affords access for mobility restricted residents including buggy and wheelchair users, who were formerly denied access to this tranquil area. The path connects at one end with a residential area with more than its fair share of social ills.

This sadly generates misuse of motorbikes and mopeds, which could illegally be taken onto Hobmoor with devastating consequences for the area’s ambience and ecology. The access barriers are designed to enable pedal cycles, trailers etc to be taken through, but not other vehicles. There is a traffic order in place to prosecute any offenders.

As a matter of interest, I used the route on a journey from Fulford to Holgate. A lady cyclist was just ahead of me, towing a child in a trailer as we both successfully negotiated the access controls without damage.

Paul Hepworth, Windmill Rise, Holgate, York

 

WE are so lucky. On Wednesday, I took an elderly friend to the York Designer Outlet at Fulford. My friend became ill twice while there.

I was overwhelmed with the kindness of two passersby, the assistants from two shops, the centre staff and the taxi driver, who all came to help so generously and without being asked to do so. It was wonderful.

We are so lucky to live in a country with such good will at its heart. Long may it be so. Hopefully those involved may know of our gratitude and may we all reflect on our good fortune.

Colin Foster, Shipton Road, York

 

DAVID WARDELL and Philip Roe rightly condemn the contempt and indifference shown to some of our uniform-wearing servicemen when in public (Letters, September 29).

However, I do know of one individual who has uniforms for each service, all replete with medals befitting a hero, who is feted everywhere he goes. His name is Charles Windsor.

Dave Barker, Huntington, York

 

DESPITE the headlines (The Press, September 28), the Lendal Bridge fiasco is not yet over.

Until the 18,000 refunds still outstanding are paid, this stain on the integrity of our city will not be expunged.

Geoff Robb, Dunnington, York