We were visiting a friend in Ilkley today and timed our visit so that we, with others, could pay our respects at the Memorial in the park on Grove Road to the many war dead of so many conflicts. About a dozen people congregated. As we waited for 11am, we read the names on the memorial and overheard one man telling another about the book he planned to write about the men from llkley who fought in the First World War. Very commendable and extremely interesting. A clock struck the hour and we stood, each remembering in our own way – except these two men who chattered on regardless. A small girl stood motionless with her mother – a perfect example of respect and dignity. One hopes they were shamed by her example.

Mary Kessler Southport

Too busy to breathe?

Following a busy day in Ilkley collecting for the Poppy Appeal, I was moved to write the following, which I wish to share with your readers.

Too busy . . . to breath?

Saturday was chilly, stood around on the Grove.

Awaiting ‘some giving’, from those on the move.

Never dull moment. Cash dropped in the tin.

From givers abundant, some a’whistlin.

Mums on a mission, Dads in mid- flow.

Teens in their glad rags. ‘Some’, nowhere to go.

Grandads and grandmas, taking the air.

Kids’ out-stretched hands, with a big smiley stare.

Nods, chit-chat and small talk as they pass by.

Tales of an age, it’d make you cry!

A copper, a handful, a note, maybe more.

‘Faces’ the story. Donations galore.

What a pleasure it was, bit o’ time to share.

Have YOU the odd hour, that you could spare?

Thoughts from Poppy Day collection.

Rotarian’s tale . . . eyes open for volunteers.

An anonymous member of the Rotary Club of Ilkley

3rd Ben Rhydding Scouts

I should like to bring to your attention an omisson from an article in the Gazette (November 6) detailing the various Remembrance services which were to take place. In the details of the Ilkley parade, a list of guests was given which included dignitaries of the town, Rombalds Guides and Brownies and the 1st Ben Rhydding Scouts.

I should like to make it clear that the 3rd Ben Rhydding Scouts were also in attendance at the Ilkley service and that there are, in fact, two Scout groups active in Ilkley.

D Lawson Group Scout Leader, 3rd Ben Rhydding Scouts

Protecting Ilkley Moor

There seems to be moves afoot to put man-made effigies on Ilkley Moor, starting at the Tarn. How long will it be before things are dotted all over the moor, ruining the natural environment and its especial contribution to our lives? How long will it be before such items will get vandalised?

Will all those who love the peace and the natural environment of the moor please make representations to the newly formed Friends of Ilkley Moor.

Barbara J Cussons Curly Hill, Ilkley

Emergency landing

I was very interested in the letter from Warwick Peirson (Ilkley Gazette, November 6), regarding a Hudson aircraft that apparently did an emergency landing near Denton Hall. I did, however, find fault with what he had to say regarding this incident. A Hudson does an emergency landing and two Lysanders are sent to effect a repair. The Hudson takes off but the Lysanders are unable to do so.

Firstly, in such an incident, it would have been normal to send a salvage crew by road, rather than by aircraft, as they would be able to send more personnel and more repair equipment. Secondly, the Hudson was a two-engined aircraft designed for take off from a normal field or landing strip, not a short piece of uneven ground. Thirdly, the Lysander was designed to be a short take-off and landing aircraft, from grass fields.

It would seem therefore, that if, in the unlikely event the Hudson was able to get airborne, then the Lysander certainly would, so if any aircraft was to be dismantled and carried by road, (as he states in his letter), it would be the Hudson.

This does not mean that he is wrong and that I am right, just that it does not seem to fit certain facts. If anyone does remember this incident and can verify their memory, I will stand back and hold up my hands.

A G Goldsbrough Dale Court, Fieldway, Ilkley

We saw the aircraft

Regarding Warwick Pierson’s letter about the RAF Lockheed Hudson’s emergency landing: It was 1941 or 1942 and a friend and I came out of our house in Wrexham Road, Burley, when the Lockheed Hudson came over fairly low with a red light flashing, going in the direction of Yeadon.

About 10 minutes later it came back and headed for the fields in the west of the village. My friend said it was about to land so we ran in that direction and it had just landed in the field on the opposite side of the river to Manor Park and the crew got out of the aircraft. While we were watching it from this side of the river, two Westland Lysander planes came over and one tried to land but hit the flood bank near the river and toppled over. The RAF pilot was on his own and went over and joined the Lockheed crew. He seemed uninjured. The other Westland Lysander pilot kept airborne but might have landed later. The next day being Sunday, my friend and I went back to the A65 road and some farm men came with a tractor and dismantled the fence and towed the Lockheed Hudson so that it could get a good run for take-off towards Manor Park at Burley. We watched it take off and it just cleared the tall trees at the Manor Park side of the river. There was no sign of the Westland Lysander and we presumed the RAF men had righted it and it had taken off. It was all hush-hush!

There was plenty of traffic on the busy A65 road but nobody stopped.

John Kirkbright Wrexham Road,Burley-in-Wharfedale

Answer to seat question

Regarding K Ives’ letter about the seat at Addingham (Ilkley Gazette, November 6) he should have made some enquiries as to why the seat was removed from the footpath around the First School playing fields before calling people brainless morons.

I would like you to know that the present members of the Addingham WI kindly arranged for the seat to be repaired. Hopefully the seat will be replaced by the time this letter is published.

B Crooks Addingham

End of the Wheatley myth

Since late 1958 until its closure, The Wheatley Hotel had been my local. In later years, I used to cycle past all the other pubs in Ilkley to go there. In recent years a few former patrons have met up each Thursday evening and each time the Ilkley Gazette perpetuated the myth that foot and mouth caused the Wheatley’s closure, the pile of feathers being spit grew larger and larger. Frankly, nobody believed that from the word go. I was in Buttermere when last week’s Gazette was published but I swear I heard the cheers when you published Ken Cooke’s letter rubbishing the myth.

Foot and mouth had a far more devastating effect further up the Dales but we know of no pub which was forced to close. Walking restrictions were lifted on Ilkley Moor fairly early in the outbreak and the Moor became a mecca for walkers who could not go elsewhere – the Wheatley, with better management, should, in fact, have benefited from foot and mouth. Let’s hope that this is the end of that particular myth.

Peter Miller Ferndale Court,Parish Ghyll Drive, Ilkley

Stamp of success

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has donated used postage stamps to me in the past in aid of the Guide Dogs for the Blind charity.

In the past year I have raised £827 from your stamp donations and, knowing that it costs around £10 per day to breed, train and care for each guide dog, you can appreciate what a difference your donations are making. I am always in need of all types of postage stamps and would be grateful if you could pass this message on to your friends and contacts at home and abroad so that I can raise even more to support Guide Dogs for the Blind in forthcoming years.

If you are able to help I would be grateful if you could you leave the stamps on their envelopes with approximately 1cm left surrounding the stamp and send them to the address below. If you would like to contact me, my email address is stamps4gdftb@live.co.uk.

Your continued help in supporting this worthy cause is greatly appreciated. Myrna Chave PO Box 91,Virginia Water GU25 9AR

New toy safety standards

With Christmas approaching fast, it is good news that toys sold in the EU will soon have to meet enhanced safety standards. I am pleased that the new standards, which I expect to be supported by the European Parliament, will successfully balance child safety and new test requirements, while ensuring that responsible producers are encouraged to make interesting new toys.

The revised standards are needed to address the challenges posed by technological advancements in toy design and manufacturing over recent years. Included in the proposals are greater clarification on the ‘general safety requirement’ – the legal basis for taking dangerous toys out of the market – limits on chemicals used in toys and a safety assessment for the hazards that a toy may present.

The new proposals significantly enhance toy safety for children and will not limit the choice of well designed, safe toys by overly restrictive standards. It was important that we did not burden responsible producers who have comprehensive quality and safety procedures with unnecessary red tape.

I believe that we have managed to secure a package that satisfies the interests of parents, children and business.

Timothy Kirkhope MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber Beechwood Farm, Main Street,Scotton, North Yorkshire