Readers' letters - November 8

It's time to have a curfew for fireworks

I know many people love November 5, but it’s about time it was sorted out.

All right, I can hear it right now: “Were you never young, and didn’t you enjoy fireworks?”

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Well, I was young once, don’t recall when, but come on, the stuff we had was pathetic although we didn’t think so.

Roman Candles, Catherine Wheels that didn’t go round but just put a big burn on your shed door, and flip-flaps, or little demons, that, if you hadn’t a hearing aid, you would miss!

No, it doesn’t compare with World War Three that broke out this weekend.

I think organised events are great, but if you insist on home displays, couldn’t we have a curfew of, say, 9.30pm, and then all the folks with very young kids and those with, by now, neurotic pets could relax?!

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We had a late flurry Saturday night, but near my daughter’s in Lostock, some heroes thought 1.30am was ideal! Aged rant over!

Allan Fazackerley

via email

remembrance

I wear both red and white

In his letter, Mr Hirst of the Royal British Legion makes the case for the inclusivity of the red poppy and implies that the white poppy is superfluous (LP Letters, October 28).

The red poppy may have originated as a remembrance for all of war’s victims and as a message of hope for a more peaceful future.

Nevertheless, in 1933, the Women’s Cooperative Guild decided to launch the white poppy as a lasting symbol of peace and to renew the commitment after the

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tragic loss of so many in the First World War to “never again”.

The white poppy is not, for me and many others, a replacement for or alternative to the red.

I wear both – the red for the reasons articulated by Mr Hirst and the white, with its central inscription of PEACE, because I want to translate the “hope” that he mentions into positive action.

Our successive governments in recent years have been too ready to engage in wars overseas and have not been prepared to go the extra mile in search of peace.

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Meanwhile, the age of recruitment to our armed forces remains lower than that in the vast majority of countries in the world.

There is much that can be done in the cause of peace, not only politically but in our own lives and relationships and within schools.

I’m sure that the teachers who have endorsed the white poppy are working in schools where red poppies are also available.

The Royal British Legion website endorses such situations on its FAQ page: ”We have no objection to white poppies or any group expressing their views.

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“We see no conflict in wearing the red poppy alongside the white poppy”.

Let’s embark on a new era of peace and reconciliation – starting with the poppy.

Keith

Hargreaves

Chorley

development

How will town visitors find us?

The response to my letter by Coun Alistair Bradley had to be read several times to realise that he had actually said very little in response to the points which I had raised (LP Letters, October 24). He seems to be under the impression that I do not support the town centre at all.

This is not so as I do firmly support the town and its traders and have always done so. His response does confirm that M&S has not yet signed on the dotted line, and apart from the proposed cinema, no one else has either! So much for 70 per cent occupancy!

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He also says “there will be bumps along the way and we are asking businesses and shoppers to work with us”.

Surely, it is Coun Bradley and his officers who should be supporting the town’s traders and shoppers, working with them, while this extension to Market Walks is going on. He also says he “wants to give the town centre a viable future and bring in more visitors”. In earlier correspondence, I have pointed out that our town does not even have a tourist information point or a town map.

I have even submitted samples of such items to the council, all to no avail.

Coun Bradley, how are these additional visitors going to find us without these basic requirements?

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He has now announced that we have a park and ride facility for visitors. Sorry, but apart from announcements in the press, I wouldn’t have known anything about it.

Has anyone seen the signs telling the visitors to our town where it is?

I will be delighted if Coun Bradley will properly address the points I have raised and skip any further ‘political speak’.

Graham Archer

Chorley

language

Just add

an ‘e’ please

Why do some people have so much difficulty in correctly spelling Morecambe?

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The latest music CD by singers Michael Ball and Fleetwood’s Alfie Boe, entitled Together Again, has their version of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise’s signature tune, Bring Me Sunshine. Morecambe and Wise are Ball and Boe’s favourite TV double act.

But in the credits on the album sleeve, Eric’s name is spelled Morcambe.

Alan Sandham JP

Lancaster

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