LETTERS: Wakefield readers have their say on racism and the EU, city regeneration and elections

The answer is obviously not. Should those of us who exercised our democratic rights to vote for freedom and justice now expect to be smeared every time there’s a race-hate crime?

I joined the Anti-Nazi league as a founder member aged 13 at a meeting at Pontefract Town Hall in 1976. On two occasions as an anti-racist activist, in 1979 and 1983, I was violently assaulted by white racists. About ten years ago I assisted West Yorkshire Police in apprehending and successfully prosecuting the perpetrator of a race hate crime in Castleford.

On June 23, 2016 I voted to leave the EU, not because I am a racist, but because like the majority I want my country to be governed by elected representatives in Westminster not unelected bureaucrats in Brussels. I voted leave because I want the UK off the job-destroying Ponzi scheme that is the EU Titanic before it hits the political and economic iceberg toward which it is headed with its doomed currency, tanking GDP and stratospheric unemployment.

I also voted leave because I oppose EU trade barriers that help to keep the third world in poverty; a fact conveniently overlooked by the smug and elitist remainers. Or perhaps it’s not overlooked at all? Perhaps they are completely ignorant of that fact as so many are obviously ignorant of relevant history.

The British people have plenty in common with the ordinary people of the EU, more than any of us have in common with our pro-EU politicians. Paradoxically the people of Europe have little whatsoever in common with the likes of the delusional Jean-Claude Juncker and his gang.

The skids are under them already and they’re sweating. The UK has been the first to declare that the Emperor has no clothes and to decline to pay the tailor’s bill.

Neil Liversidge

Managing director of West

Riding Personal Financial

Solutions

elections

Best equipped

In response to Mr Pimblett’s letter, I am sure that in the local elections people voted for the party which they believe is best equipped to deal with local issues.

Coun David Dagger

Cabinet Member for Corporate Services

Wildlife

Winged wonders

I write in reply to the letter by Lester Young regarding the winged wonder, namely the swift.

The species always appears to be the forgotten member of our wildlife. Very little information has been gathered about the bird due to the fact that it is one of the most difficult members to track and to obtain relevant information.

The youngsters, which have been raised over here, always return to their nesting sites usually around the eighth of May, having made a journey of several thousand miles from the African Continent. They remain on the wing throughout this period, eating, sleeping and breeding during the journey. They love to nest underneath the eaves and spouts of your home which allows them to drop directly from the nest and take up flight. They cannot come into contact with the ground due to the fact that they cannot take flight from this position.

They will spend up to twelve hours a day hunting their diet of midges and flies, travelling many miles in the process.

As stated by Lester Young, they are fast becoming a dying breed due to the construction of new housing which denies the species the conditions to nest and rear chicks and we are in danger of losing these scimitar winged birds for ever.

Bob Crowther

High Street, Crigglestone

Regeneration

Have some pride

I live in New Zealand but Wakefield will always be my home.

I have seen the top of Westgate turned into a soulless area during the day, as all the nightclubs are situated there. The pride of Wakefield, the fabulous open markets which attracted shoppers from all over the West Riding, have gradually been eliminated in favour of sterile malls.

I simply find it absolutely incomprehensible that the council has allowed the total eyesore of the ABC Cinema to still remain standing after all the discussions about refurbishment. Doesn’t anyone on the council have the guts to say that’s it and implement a compulsory purchase order to rectify the situation asap?

What about the famous Wakefield Trinity grounds at Belle Vue? Like the flower gardens that used to greet visitors to the park, they have both been neglected over the years. Residents need to have pride in their city, and if these few areas I’ve mentioned were addressed with a genuine pro active intent then Wakefield would become a far better place to call home.

The open markets could always be re-established in a suitable location with encouragement from the council - and I don’t mean the half hearted effort they tried last time by the bus station.

In the case of open markets, the bigger, the better.

Mike Loakman

Tauranga, New Zealand

Appeal

Somme poppy

I have in my possession a limited edition Somme 100 poppy, which commemorates the men killed on the first day of the battle of the Somme on July 1 2016.

There were 19,240 men from the UK killed that day. There were 19,240 poppies made to commemorate this occasion. They are made using donor metal from 1916 shell fuses recovered from the Somme battlefields of France.

The central red enamel is made from finely ground earth recovered from the Somme. Each poppy comes with a printed dedication to an individual who died that day.

My Poppy is dedicated to Private E Noble of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.

I have looked and researched on the internet and I managed to find out that he was called Elmsall and he was the son of John George and Rose Emma, who lived on Haigh More Road, West Ardsley.

In 1901, aged 13, he was employed as a coal hewer. Elmsall enlisted in Wakefield where he joined the KOYLI as private 21577.

I would greatly appreciate any help in trying to track down any relatives of this soldier so I may donate the poppy for them to keep as a special piece of history.

Mark Pearson

Cottenham, Cambridge.

Tributes

Missed by many

The brief obituary notice of Arthur Dudley Taylor (Express, July 1) does scant justice to the life and career of a stalwart of the church, education and rugby union in Wakefield.

Dudley, as he was always known, was born and raised in Lincoln Street from where he attended both the schools in Alverthorpe. From there he won a scholarship to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School and then went on to Leeds University to study chemistry. He then qualified as a teacher and taught at Hemsworth and Ossett Grammar Schools and then Ossett School, where he rose to head of department and deputy head. Dudley was always available to assist the PE staff, particularly with rugby union and cricket, and he was instrumental in introducing rugby union to Ossett.

Whilst still at QEGS he joined Wakefield RFC in the 1950s and played first XV rugby before later becoming captain of both the A and B XV. When his playing career ended, he was a dedicated and respected member of the General Committee and the Selection Committee, helping to organise the first Easter Tours to Wales.

He was also a lifelong member of Yorkshire RFU and a member of the Schools 16 Group selection committee. For both these organisations he often used his considerable catering and cooking skills to provide light refreshments or more substantial meals. He was a lifelong member of Yorkshire CCC and would support them at Headingley, Scarborough and some of the other nearer county grounds in the championship.

He attended St. James’ Church on Denby Dale Road where he was active as sidesman, church warden and a member of the Men’s Society.

Over and above, he was a dedicated family man to his wife Barbara and his three children David, Jane and Judith with whom he spent many happy holidays at Scarborough and Guernsey.

He will be missed by many.

John Kaye

Captain of Wakefield RFC 1961-66