Military method of stopping smoking

Your article on Saturday (Smokers urged to quit for Stoptober, September 24) reminds me of my own experience when advised to stop smoking.

I was serving in the RAF sometime in the early 1970s, aged 40, and had been smoking since a young boy. Indeed, whilst serving in Egypt 1947-1950 we were issued with 50 cigarettes each week free!

I went to see the medical officer complaining of coughs, aches and pains. He asked, do you smoke? I answered yes. His response was, I cannot do anything for you, you should stop smoking. There was no treatment, no patches, no CD on how to do it, no counselling, indeed no help at all.

However I took the advice and immediately stopped smoking. Then some three months or so afterwards, still feeling unwell, I went back to the same medical officer and told him I had not had a smoke since last seeing him, but still felt unwell. His response, Oh you have withdrawal symptoms, you will get over it.

I did, and now some 40 years on have not smoked since.

The moral of the story, tough love and willpower.

L Kemp, Wasdale Close, York

Worship is alive and well on the airwaves

READING about another church closing its doors (The Press, September 14) brings me to the conclusion that members of the community are looking at other ways of receiving God’s word.

Radio for one and the computer is another, examples being through Premier Christian Radio and United Christian Radio. There are many ways of worship these days over the airwaves.

Keith Chapman, Custance Walk, York

Lord Mayor doesn’t need dressing down

Oh dear, York is on the slippery slope. The Lord Mayor doesn’t wear a tie and the Lady Mayoress is a Hell’s Angel.

Enough already! Let not a man be judged by the colour of his tie, but by the content of his character.

These two have character by the bucket load and we should salute this colourful couple who have brought a modern twist to the office. People respond to this new relaxed style and at the end of their term, the money raised for the charities they support will speak for itself.

Times have moved on. Ties mean nothing to the younger generation. Jack the Ripper wore a tie, Harold Shipman wore a tie. I could go on. Let’s stop this Tie Rant, and let our charismatic and hardworking Lord and Lady Mayoress reign in Peace.

Isabel Taylor, York

RSPB bird survey is totally inaccurate

The RSPB bird survey is totally inaccurate as one can only register online the birds seen on a farm.

How many old or older farmers are up to speed? How many in the Dales etc have access to modern technology?

At the recent Harrogate autumn flower show (where there were four RSPB stands) one in particular wanted people to donate or join.

I asked why we could not have at least a phone number or address to register our bird populations. A lady was in agreement, as was a man on another stand. The representatives touting for funds showed no interest in my suggestions.

So come on RSPB, let’s get honesty as to bird populations. Accuracy is paramount.

Pamela Z Frankland, Hull Road, York