A caring society (From York Press)

A caring society

1:16pm Friday 17th August 2012 in Letters

“WHERE’S the need?” asks Ida Mary Goodrick (Letters, August 8). Mrs Goodrick, in your day, during the great depression of the 1920s, you would not ‘dare’, suggest anyone was disadvantaged.

My father was ‘disadvantaged’ during the depression because his father had died, leaving my grandmother to bring up five children alone. All were loved and cared for in the best way my grandmother could.

She cleaned and ironed for people while my father and his siblings played in the streets. He did not lead a happy life as a child, coming from poverty and want. If he could have gone to such a summer school he would have loved to.

People who realise it’s not the children’s fault have put in place a summer school to help. They should be given a pat on the back, because it will help children to enjoy school holidays.

Ida Mary Goodrick’s letters are rarely complimentary or light hearted. If you can, Mrs Goodrick, look out of your window, at the flowers, sunshine (if it’s not raining) and beautiful countryside we have, and feel privileged to be part of a modern, caring society.

Karin Cox, Grange Avenue, Tadcaster .