Foot and mouth not to blame for Wheatley’s closure

In point of fact, the Wheatley was a true “local” and depended on local customers. Tourists and visitors, who might have been deterred by the epidemic, were never a meaningful part of the clientele. I am surprised that this has not been corrected before by other readers.

What happened was a change of management. The former landlords of the Wheatley moved across the valley to the Black Horse in Askwith and most patrons followed. Their successors in Ben Rhydding failed to provide an attractive service, soon ran out of patronage and had to close. A commercial failure and absolutely nothing to do with foot and mouth.

The proof of this is not that visitors or the English Tourist Board are trying to rescue the Wheatley, but Ben Rhydding locals in the form of SUP - “Save Us Pubs”. All strength to their elbows!

Ken Cooke

Wheatley Road, Ilkley

DO YOU REMEMBER THE BOMBER?

I was fascinated to recently hear the story of a Lockheed Hudson Bomber that made an emergency landing in the riverside fields near Denton Hall in the early years of the Second World War.

Apparently the aircraft had had a mechanical fault and came down on the fields opposite Esscoft.

Two Westland Lysander planes, complete with mechanics, were sent in to repair the Hudson which then managed to take off and resume its journey.

Unfortunately, due to the unevenness of the ground, the Lysanders were unable to get airborne and had to be dismantled and removed by road.

To date, I have been unable to find any more details of this incident and wondered if any of your readers could help? The aircraft would have been in full view from the busy A65 road.

Warwick Peirson

jwpeirson@yahoo.co.uk

INFORMATION APPEAL ON ARTIST

I am completing a book about the Yorkshire artist John Cooper and the East London Group of painters that he founded in Bow in the mid-1920s. Cooper died in 1943, so does not appear in my dictionary, Artists in Britain since 1945, but some East London Group artists do, such as Cooper’s wife, Phyllis Bray, Elwin Hawthorne, Brynhild Parker and Harold and Walter Steggles. The group had an exhibition at the Tate Gallery, a series in London’s West End and in the provinces but is now largely forgotten.

Cooper grew up in Scarborough and studied art there, in Bradford and Leeds and at the Slade School and, while based in London, frequently worked from his parents’ home in Menston.

He revived the teaching of mosaic at the Central School of Art, using it on a large scale.

In October 1935 the Yorkshire Observer reported how he had “executed the wonderful mosaic panels, representing the seasons, which have just been placed upon the façade of Tranmere Hall, Guiseley, the home of Mr H H Tomlinson”. It also told how Cooper had “met a young man, Mr J Appleyard, of Leeds, whom he considers one of the most gifted architects of the present generation, working in the new semi-functionist style of concrete building”.

I would be pleased to hear from anyone who can supply information about the Tranmere Hall mosaics, Messrs Tomlinson and Appleyard.

David Buckman

2 Ufton Grove, London N1 4HG

BRAINLESS MORONS

I was dismayed to find my favourite seat missing from its normal location by the footpath around the First School playing fields. It appears to have been removed by vandals for Bonfire night!

Could it pleased be replaced by the authorities with a more substantial model due to its remote location? Preferably in vandal-proof materials with a booby trap device specifically for brainless morons who see no value in other people’s property? Many thanks.

K Ives

Addingham

THANKS TO THE AIR CADETS

I am writing to express my thanks to the members of the Air Cadets who entertained passers-by (many of whom stayed to listen) at the bandstand on The Grove, Ilkley, last Saturday. It was good to see a group of enthusiastic and talented young people brought together to create a thoroughly successful and very enjoyable performance. The event preceded collections throughout the town by the cadets for the Poppy Day appeal and I trust that the response of those approached was generous.

Geoffrey Lampert

Broderick Drive, Ilkley

BBC IS NOT MY CUP OF TEA

I have been a lifelong champion of the BBC. The quality of the programmes is unparalleled by any of its competitors. Being particularly interested in wildlife documentaries, who could possibly refute the view that David Attenborough has produced some of the best loved series in the history of television? Regardless of what one’s own cup of tea is, the BBC generally had done it better than anyone else.

Alas, of late, my opinion has taken a turn for the worse. Only last week Jonathan Ross was suspended for some prank which, thankfully, backfired and has cost him a reported £1.5m in lost earnings. What the prank was isn’t the issue here; the fact that Ross is earning £6m per annum is. (Who this Russell Brand chap is I have no idea and shall refrain from making any comment – I assume he’s one of the new breed of celebrities with which this country is presently inundated).

As a licence fee payer, I begrudge paying the annual subscription to keep the likes of Ross in the lifestyle to which he has clearly become accustomed. It makes me realise that perhaps those responsible for losing billions in the banking system and then being handed a fantastic redundancy package isn’t all that bad. At least when the going is good these people are creating wealth. Jonathan Ross has never created anything for anyone, apart from an obscene amount of wealth for himself.

I now understand that the largest part of the licence fee goes on paying salaries to presenters and no longer on creating quality programs – anyone who is (or was) a fan of Gardeners World may also have come to a similar conclusion. Toby Buckland shouldn’t even be allowed to sweep the studio floor of Blue Peter never mind be the presenter of what is surely one of the best loved television series in this country. Paying an ever-increasing licence fee so I have the privilege of being informed by our team of experts that the jobs around the garden this week include sweeping up dead leaves is not my idea of value nor of quality television. I’ve a good mind to take the TV set down to our recycling plant and dispose of it in an environmentally friendly manner – or drop it off a motorway bridge with the hope it might hit a passing celebrity. Let’s face it, there’s every chance it will.

Shaun Viney

Blue Hill, Denholme BD13

RUN FOR MENINGITIS RESEARCH

We would like to ask any of your readers who are taking part in next year’s Flora London Marathon on April 26 and have an independent place if they would like to run for Meningitis UK.

Meningitis UK has a single focus: to find a vaccine to eradicate all forms of meningitis. Tragically, meningitis and meningococcal septicaemia continue to affect thousands of people in the UK every year and kill more children under five than any other infectious disease.

Last year we launched our Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign which aims to raise £7 million to fund research into finding a vaccine for meningococcal group B, the most common form of meningitis in the UK. This accounts for almost 90 per cent of all cases and there is currently no vaccine.

Everyone who runs for Meningitis UK will be part of the Meningitis Musketeers team, with the motto ‘All 4 One and One 4 All’ to highlight the devastating fact that meningitis can kill in under four hours and the importance of our Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign.

Full support will be given and everyone who participates will receive a free Search 4 a Vaccine running vest or T-shirt, and a handy information pack including hints and tips on how to prepare.

If you would like to take part in the Flora London Marathon and help us achieve our vision, please contact Emily on 0117 373 7373 for a sponsorship pack.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Emily Knight

Community fundraising officer, Meningitis UK

CAN YOU HELP DEAF-AID PROJECT?

Grandparents, fathers and siblings of deaf children wanted!

We are looking for enthusiastic grandparents, fathers and siblings of deaf children from Yorkshire to take part in an innovative two-year project set up by the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS), and funded by the National Lottery through Big Lottery Fund. There are many ways to get involved in the All Together project, such as sharing your experiences of having a deaf child in your family, volunteering at a local event, or helping to create new resources that will give grandparents, fathers and siblings across England the support and encouragement they need to form a strong relationship with a deaf child. If you are interested in participating, or to find out more, please call me today on 020 7490 8656, or email me at valerie.copenhagen@ndcs.org.uk.

Valerie Copenhagen

All Together Project Manager

NDCS, 15 Dufferin Street, London EC1Y 8UR

FREEZING OUT FUEL POVERTY

I am writing to support Macmillan Cancer Support’s campaign to freeze out fuel poverty for cancer patients.

Rising fuel prices have affected many of us, but for cancer patients the effects can be even more keenly felt. Spending longer periods at home during recovery is just one of the reasons cancer patients have increased energy needs. Coupled with the effects of the treatment itself, this means that cold really is colder with cancer. In a recent Macmillan survey, two-thirds of cancer patients struggling financially said paying fuel bills was their biggest money worry. Cancer patients face higher bills at a time when their income has often decreased, but do not automatically qualify for help.

Nobody with cancer should be left in the cold this winter because they can’t afford to heat their home. Macmillan is urging the Government to extend the winter fuel payment to cancer patients. This annual payment of up to £400 is currently paid to everyone over 60, but could bring immediate help to cancer patients struggling with additional fuel costs. If you’re struggling to cope with the financial effects of cancer visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call 0800 500 800 to find out more and get hold of a copy of Macmillan’s Help with the cost of cancer booklet and managing fuel costs factsheet.

Sandra Fowler

Greenway Close, Crossgates, Leeds LS15