Leeds nostalgia: YReaders' letters

I was a paper boy for Tom Sleightholme on Halton Hill and for six years my round was Oak Road and the Portage Avenue area. Tom, in his shop doorway, was very kind to me, the customers always had little weekly treats for me - Coppers sweets and fruit (1938), so I have many happy memories as a paper boy.

Robert Holman, Mardesn Court, Water Lane, Pudsey

In relation to a piece which appeared in Retro in the Yorkshire Evening Post on May 17 [about St Paul’s House being bombed]... it was mainly used by the Royal Army Pay Corps and, if memory serves, the Food Office was housed in a separate building next to St Paul’s.

In November 1940, the 58th Battalion Royal Army Pay Corps was bombed out of Portsmouth and transferred to Leeds, where they stayed for the next seven years. Military and ATS were billeted with families all over Leeds and during the day worked in offices at Park House and also on the top two floors of the building now known as St Paul’s House in Park Square and in various other buildings. Lots of civilian women were also employed and worked alongside the military and ATS.

I worked on the top floor of St Paul’s House, in Part II Orders, for four years. The floor was concrete and the room was heated by coke boilers with chimneys going out through the roof. It was always freezing, so we worked with out coats on.

Rose Green, Holmwood, Park Crescent, Roundhay

In relation to a story in the YEP some time ago about John Travers receiving the Victoria Cross for his role at the Battle of Jutland, I would like to point out he was not the youngest. That was Andrew Fitzgibbons, 15, during the Chinese Boxer Rebellion. After that it was Thomas Flinn in the Indian Mutiny - he was a 15 years 3 months 10 days old. Then there was George Monger, 17, also in the Indian Mutiny.

J Taylor, West Grange Road