Put off by anti-social youngsters
For nearly 60 years I've lived in Preston and its suburbs, but until about a year ago, I haven't had much need to use the town centre. Now I make my way there, in the mornings, once a week and I'm finding it less and less enjoyable.
Why? These are some of my experiences: A teenage mother pushing a pram on the bus station, yelling at the small baby "For f**** sake stop screaming".
An elderly woman stood in the middle of the Guild Arcade, shouting at a younger woman about her (unwanted) pregnancy in terms that left nothing to the imagination.
An extraordinary number of teenage girls pushing prams around.
Casual and continual foul language from all ages, but especially the young - very noticeable on the market.
Two young boys "playing" under the steps to the Guild Hall, their amusement being derived from swearing like navvies at everyone.
A young man drinking out of a large plastic bottle and then throwing it down on the steps of the Cenotaph.
Until recently I've spent more time in Southport than Preston and I think I'll head back there.

Not So Proud of Preston
(full name and address supplied)

Listen to concerns of scared children
Many thanks for publishing letters written by students in years 3 and 5 at Ribbleton Avenue Methodist Junior School, talented students in my writing groups.
As you said, the views were all the children's own; the topics chosen by them. It is obvious from the majority of those letters that these young people are concerned about the increasingly violent world around them. They also want to improve their environment and cut road traffic accidents.
Some said they lived near dealers, which made family life uncomfortable. Another's house had been burgled three times and "we had no money left, we had to move".
When I was their age I had no inkling of the dark problems they outline: I was writing to Barnados, sending postal orders after organising little fundraising street stalls with my sister. A friend's daughter was writing letters to save threatened swans. Social changes in the decades since have cut short the innocence of so many young ones.
These children were thrilled to see themselves in print and their views respected and published.
Let's hope their generation - and ours - can make Preston a safer, better city in response to their
concerns.

Sue Hicks, address supplied

Life of pheasants far better than chickens
What a load of old tosh Fiona Pereira talks in relation to pheasant-shooting. I have been associated with pheasant shoots for many years. They are bought as young birds, and reared in pens which are large fenced-off areas in woodland, their natural environment. Why pens? It keeps the birds safe from predators and enables them to mature into strong, healthy specimens.
When old enough to fend for themselves the birds are released into the surrounding countryside to enjoy a natural way of life. A lot of work goes into providing them with everything they need.
Come shooting season, the birds are flushed out by professional beaters. Once shot the birds are retrieved by highly trained gun dogs, and eventually end up on the table, not left to stagger about wounded as Fiona wishes us all to believe. I can't speak for everyone else but I would prefer to eat a bird that has been reared in such a natural way, than a chicken that has never seen the light of day.
As for landowners making a profit from pheasant shooting, I would rather support the landowner who treats his birds with respect and maintains the countryside rather than buy a battery chicken pumped with heaven knows what.
The majority of the pheasants (60%) are left to live their lives and probably breed the following year.

Bernie Corner, Preston, via email

Scrap list altogether
I read that Gordon Brown wants to replace the so-called John Lewis list of household goods MPs can buy for their second homes, with something less grand, akin to an Ikea list.
He misses the point.
MPs should not be allowed to furnish second homes on the taxpayer, wherever the stuff is bought from.

Name and address supplied

Don't forget the men who lost their lives
I would like to make your readers aware that today is the 94th
anniversary of the deaths of the Preston Pals.
Many do not know of their sacrifices during their involvement in the action at Bazentine-le-Petit during the Battle of the Somme in the early hours of July 23, 1916.
It was reported only about 50 of several hundred came back and because they have no individual memorial, the public may not even know the significance of today's date in Preston's history.
I would also like to get in contact with Miss Margaret Schofield, granddaughter of Sgt William Rawcliffe. His original letters could aid my research on the Pals.
David Huggonson, via email (Prestonpals@hotmail.co.uk
or Tel: 07900 366034)
Do you recall dog rescue teacher?
I was just reflecting on happy days at Deepdale Primary School and I wondered if any of your readers recollect the following incident which must have happened in 1946/7.
I was aged 10 or 11 and was in the school playground with other boys playing football while the girls were skipping, when a white Staffordshire Bull Terrier wandered in and started chasing a ball.
After a while the dog started snarling and snapping so much that everyone jumped on the low walls around the playground.
The dog continued to run around and, of course, someone just had to dare to run across the playground to the opposite wall before the dog could grab him.
One lad called Wilson made a dash as best he could (I remember he was wearing clogs like a lot of us) but the dog caught him by the ankle and was chewing through his clog when a group of teachers came into the playground.
One teacher (Mr Lloyd?) burst through the group and raced to help Wilson. He grabbed the dog's jaws and forced them open... until we all heard a loud crack.
As I remember Mr Lloyd was a Second World War veteran.
Harry Benson, Woodlands Avenue, Penwortham
Conflicting messages on local Tory agenda
At the recent Local Government Conference, Conservative leader David Cameron said that just as Westminster should give powers to local government, it was important that councils devolved powers down to the local community.
He said the party was now the party of localism. However, the Conservative-controlled South Ribble Borough Council has recently reduced the number of Area Committees from eight to six and reduced the number of times they meet to six a year.
This was done despite objections by members of the public who
attend the meetings.
It would seem that the Conservatives say one thing but do the
opposite.
Tony Pimblett, Princes Road, Penwortham

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