ALL the razzmatazz to promote and gain publicity for the return of Top Gear is aimed at the younger generation, that driving a motor vehicle can be a source of adrenalin aimed at spectacular manoeuvres carried out at high speed. This has no place on our public highways.

The main protagonists presenting Top Gear give the impression by their actions to behave like overgrown schoolboys hell bent on excitement whatever the cost.

More emphasis should be placed on attention being paid on road craft “and guidelines within the rules of the Highway Code”, stay in low gear and confine speed and dangerous manoeuvres to established motor racing circuits complete with safeguards.

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington, York

 

READING the letters from Conway Ryan (The Press, June 15) and Ken Holmes (The Press, June 23) brought back many memories. I knew Paddy Ryan and the boxers mentioned.

There were a lot of amateur boxing clubs in York in the 1940s. I started when I was nine or ten years old, boxing for York Boys Club.

At the Boys Club, the trainer was an ex-professional boxer called Ted Ellison. I also trained at the Railway Institute where the trainer was George Tomes.

York Youth Organisation arranged tournaments in the Drill Hall, Colliergate, and there were lots of inter-club contests.

Ken Holmes mentioned the stable lads. I remember them on programmes. I also boxed for Rowntree Boxing Club.

Bill Walls, Shelley Grove, York

 

I WONDER how many phones and cameras there are that people lose and never find their way back to there owners?

I have a suggestion that might help. With any phone/camera take a picture of your passport, bus pass, student card, driving licence, anything with your picture on, but not your address.

Then, in the first instance, the finder will know what you look like. Secondly, by handing the item in to the police, they can find out address details from your card suppliers.

Question? I wonder if in an emergency you could use the picture of your driving licence, passport, EU medical card etc as a form of identification?

D M Deamer, Penleys Grove Street, Monkgate, York

 

CONGRATULATIONS to all those involved in creating the gardens outside Poppleton Road Primary School.

It isn’t an easy site, with limited space next to a busy road junction, but the children and their helpers have done a great job of brightening up their school surroundings.

Wouldn’t it be good if other schools could do the same?

Further into York by Holgate Park Road there is a delightful wild flower meadow. Again, well done to all those involved.

Roger Backhouse, Orchard Road, Upper Poppleton, York

 

REGARDING David H Meek’s request for information about Martin Barrass’ performance as Elephant Man at York Theatre Royal (Letters, June 30), I can’t help him with the date.

But through your pages I would like to emphasise to those who didn’t see it what a powerful, emotional performance Martin gave the audience.

Truly, this man is not just Buttons in Berwick’s panto, but a world-class actor.

D McTernan, Fossway, York

 

TOURISM in Yorkshire and the Humber is now worth £7 billion, more than Ireland and Denmark combined, this is why Gary Verity deserves his knighthood.

He has done more for Yorkshire than most, even if it did disrupt one day in the miserable lives of certain York residents.

Alan Rowley, North Moor Estate, York

 

THE Fulford and District Branch of the Royal British Legion will hold its next meeting on Thursday, July 9, in The Sergeants Mess, Imphal Barracks.

The meeting starts at 7.30pm and all are welcome.

Any further information may be obtained by phoning the secretary on 01904 426123.

Ian Smith, Branch press officer, Stockton Lane, York

 

I AM so delighted to hear the news that Lancashire Council has listened to the campaigning by thousands of local people and rejected the application by Cuadrilla to begin fracking for fuel in their area.

As the first local authority to have to make this decision, they came under huge legal pressure from the company, which was keen to set a precedent for other areas, but did not bow to it.

We can be sure that York’s turn will come, probably quite soon.

I commend the Lancashire councillors, campaigners and local people, and hope we and our council will manage to resist fracking, with its unpredictable environmental effects and its impact on climate change, in York.

Catherine Heinemeyer, Holgate, York