In his annual review of Evening Press letters, Graeme Robertson reveals who wrote in about what during 2001.

LAST year was memorable. Not only because of the momentous events that affected so many local people, the rail disaster, foot and mouth and a General Election, but for the many issues that prompted our readers to write to the Editor.

As always, many people showed no inhibitions and were quick to put their concerns and thoughts in a letter. Not to mention criticism of the Press itself and some of its journalists! No names but Chris, Julian, Stephen and Charles will know who was meant.

Correspondents' addresses revealed just how far our paper travels. Perhaps this year there could be a competition for a photograph of the Evening Press being read in the most far flung or unusual location.

The names of correspondents are also revealing. Representatives of flora (birch, bush, Hazel and Heather) vied with fauna (badger, bull, dipper and fox) plus a range of occupations such as baker, cooper, cook and draper.

The regular feature In Touch, filled with messages from North Yorkshire ex-pats, ran its course and was dropped halfway through the year.

Not so the conventional letters page. Our postman was kept busy and of the hundreds of letters received 1,907 were published in the main paper. A further 107 made it to the sports pages.

January started off with a letter from T D Winn about yob culture. Heather Causnett and Jeremy Banyard regretted that shops were opening at Christmas, an issue retailer Colin Henson raised again in December.

Topics that were not new, but still worried readers, were fox hunting, Park and Ride and, understandably, the Coppergate development.

In February, Joseph Asara of Ghana asked for pen pals. Did he get any? The critic of the Russell Watson concert came in for criticism and Douglas Craig was persuaded to reply to 20 letters. He was less open as the year unfolded.

The foot and mouth crisis erupted in March and the Press was taken to task over a photograph of this disaster. Serious as this was, it did not eclipse readers' continuing concern about Coppergate.

At long last the Millennium Bridge was opened in April with letters praising and criticising its construction. Hilary Potter was so enraged about an episode of Casualty that the editor saw fit to print her letter on April 20 and 21!

This was the month that a Dr K Davis of Cockermouth burst on the Evening Press scene with the first of many letters. For someone purporting to live in Cumbria he takes a very keen interest in our city...

By May a shopper from Leeds was telling us how litter-free York was while locals asked what visitors thought about the state of York's public lavatories. Support was sought for the threatened Frog Hall pub and some readers highlighted problems in the NHS.

Despite the General Election, there were remarkably few letters from candidates although the letters page carried the inevitable praises and complaints from York voters.

The A64 gap closures, flyover versus underpass and accident record were issues this month. But the main thrust of correspondence focused on the future of a particular medical practice.

An alternative design for Coppergate enthused some readers in July, who also reacted to the Son Of Star Wars. More recycling was welcomed and Mrs Ida Mary Goodrick, whose beautifully-crafted letters are a delight to read, displayed her knowledge of Queen Victoria's family.

Although it was only August, one correspondent bemoaned the loss of Santa's grotto from the Co-op. Buses (or the lack of them) and foot and mouth remained serious concerns. A visitor from Epsom wrote to complain about youths who shouted and used foul language in town.

Amen to that.

The September 11 terrorist attack brought a wave of local sympathy. Proposed cuts in rail services offended some readers and the alleged problems within First York also had an airing. This month it was sad to read a letter from Bryan Lawson describing himself as an ex-regular contributor to the letters column.

Come back Bryan, we miss you.

During the year Mike Usherwood and Paul Hepworth continued to slug it out on the cycle-versus-car theme.

As the dark nights approached in October the problems of cyclists on footpaths, without lights and in one way streets joined communications on general traffic congestion and litter.

The NHS may come in for criticism nationally but there is no shortage of local people who are grateful for the care and concern received at York District Hospital.

November was typical of many months when letters of thanks to staff on particular wards or in clinics were printed. The new payment scheme for local councillors did not please some readers. P R Willey had a go at one of our most prolific correspondents while Graham Tissiman should have been pleased to see that his letter printed on the ninth reappeared on the tenth.

The year ended as it began with Coppergate and buses featuring but the bombshell which aroused much correspondence was the news that York City was up for sale. This month David Tindale rebuked the editor saying he expected the Press to filter the news and not print nonsense.

No comment!

During the year 1,393 people wrote to the editor in such a way that their views just had to be printed. Some wrote only once and their contributions were as valued as much as those from the more prolific correspondents. Mention should be made of six-year-old Patrick Gibson, the youngest letter writer of the year.

This year's 'Women With A Pen' include Barbara Wright (eight letters), Pamela Egan (eight plus one with husband Peter), Annie Wright from Birmingham (nine) Heather Causnett (15) and, welcome as ever, Margaret Lawson (20).

In past years anyone who has caught the editor's eye ten or more times has been worthy of mention.

This year more male correspondents than ever have passed this watershed including ten letters from Jeremy Banyard, Dr Duncan Campbell, Colin Henson and P R Willey, followed by Allen Denney, Bill Shaw and Stuart Wilson each with 11.

Close on their heels are William Dixon Smith (12), David Quarrie (13), Paul Hepworth, Colin S Jeffrey, Phil Shepherdson and Mike Usherwood each with 14. Graham Horne (15), N Fletcher of Norton (16) and Dale Minks (18) clearly have what it takes to make it into the Press.

Checking back on earlier years' summaries there is little change in the names of the most regular of our contributors with the exception of Dr K Davis whose 22 letters outstripped Richard Lamb (20) but failed to match Ken Holmes of Cliffe Common who appeared 24 times.

Would it be wrong to speculate what will interest our readers in 2002?

No doubt the Coppergate inquiry and the sale of York City but it is up to you, our readers, to write on whatever topics you wish.

But please keep them tight and bright - that way they have more chance of appearing.

Updated: 10:27 Tuesday, January 08, 2002