Readers' letters - August 2

I recently read the dreadful statistic that over 8.5 million children had been legally aborted in the UK since the Abortion Act came into force some years ago.

No doubt this figure, released by a Government Statistical Department, is on the low side and the real truth is that it is probably well in excess of nine million.

These are innocent children who have been killed and denied a right to live out their lives just as we do.

I feel pity for these women, potential mothers, who have unwittingly (through persuasion that is legal) allowed themselves to being party to this shedding of innocent blood.

Unfortunately we are told 38 per cent of women who have previously had an abortion now use repeat abortions as a deadly form of birth control.

That apparently costs the NHS around £1m per week and although no figures are presently given for the number of such repeat abortions, the last statistic from 2013 listed 49 women in England and Wales as having at least eight previous abortions!

Whilst even those training to be doctors –who do not want to carry out these abortion procedures –are to be trained by their Royal College to perform them anyway “as they are more likely in future to want to develop these skills” (to kill babies).

Even more worrying is the recent development in the Royal College of Midwives, through their pro-abortion president Professor Kathy Warwick, who (besides being the chairman of the BPAS, the organisation that kills the most babies in the UK) now demands all legal protection for unborn children be scrapped.

This she did by lending midwives’ RCM support to her BPAS campaign, without first consulting RCM members themselves.

This she hopes would now allow future abortions to be performed up to birth.

Prof Warwick, through her We Trust Women BPAS campaign, states that “women themselves have to live with their abortion decision consequences and if they have regrets, they have only themselves to blame.”

The trauma women often experience after an abortion can be devastating. Studies have shown that 30 per cent have experienced mental health problems and a third have expressed regret. There is also a risk factor for later miscarriage, infection and infertility, whereas statistics have shown women carrying a first pregnancy to birth have protection against breast cancer.

It is important all potential young mothers are given the truth about this choice they will be faced with. Most doctor’s surgeries in the UK now have copies of the SPUC leaflet entitled Abortion :Your Right to Know, where pregnant patients can read about the scientific research stating the truth, rather than the half truths peddled by their opponents.

E J Tilley via email

Trust should step aside

Currently, the Labour Party seems to be in total disarray.

We are fortunate our local MP seems to remain above all the squabbling and continues to have local interests at heart.

At a meeting in Chorley Town Hall, regarding saving Chorley Hospital’s A & E department, Lindsay Hoyle spoke with passion about his concerns.

He has serious doubts regarding the ability of trust members to run their affairs correctly.

He was also concerned the local A & E department may not be re-instated in the near future.

It has now come to light the trust paid the sum of £375,000 in overtime to one consultant. This is in addition to the average salary they are paid of around £89,000.

Is it any wonder they find themselves in this current mess?

Other trusts, including Wigan, just a few miles away, manage to fund operations without these excessive payments.

If the local trust members can’t manage, they should step aside and let others who can to get on with the job.

Graham Archer, Chorley

Let’s get Shaw’s rocket to fly

On the BBC News, there was an interesting article which tugged at my heartstrings...says me reaching for the tissues!

It concerned an appeal from Dingles National Fairground Museum, in Devon, to save the Moon Rocket fairground ride for the relatively small sum of £17,000.

This amount is to top up the £90,000 which has been donated by the National Heritage Memorial Fund, to ensure the unique ride stays in the UK and is NOT shipped abroad by another bidder.

Let me take you back to 1958 and the arrival of the Annual Whit Fair on Preston Flag market.

Intrepid 10- year-old St Walburgh’s lads, myself, Eddie Moxham and Frank Bimpson, English Martyrs’ lads Alf Corrigan and Paul Williams, and Maudland Bank lad Johnny Wilson (who recently led the campaign to save Preston’s iconic bus station from demolition) asked the fairground people: “Can we help you set up the fair, mister?”

The answer was: “Yes!”

So, directly opposite the Cenotaph, we chose to help erect the Best in Show, none other than Shaw’s Moon Rocket.

Just to put you in the picture – no hi-vis jackets or hard hats provided! Just blood, sweat and tears required in bucket-loads.

The flag market’s slope was overcome with some well-used wooded wedges and a beer-mat or two. An hour or so she stood proudly and as steady as a rock!

It was ready to open, two days later, promptly on Whit Monday Morning, after the Proud Preston Church parades had passed.

Fast forward to Monday morning, 10am, with a shilling clutched in hand, we queued for the first ride.

The ride needed a cleaver technique, perfected over years, to hold the ‘car’ at arm’s length from a metal bar, which banged against the vehicle as the journey to the moon went ever faster. No health and safety in those days.

The BBC showed young children in awe of the ride, sadly now stationary in a warehouse and not allowed to tour because of logistical problems.

So come on, let’s get this beautiful machine up and running and on tour so new generations can marvel and ride this beautiful piece of British engineering.

It is the 1930s forerunner of the Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s Big One. Please go to http://fairground-heritage.org.uk.

Wilf Riley via email (On behalf of Eddie, Frank, Johnny, Alf and Paul)