YEP Letters: July 17

Revie statue should be in public eye

Gary Edwards, Kippax

I read with great interest the letter from Tony Winstanley (YEP Letters July 3) regarding re-siting the Don Revie statue.

Tony has a very valid point; Don’s is indeed hidden away and should be in the public eye - as close as possible to the statue of the great Billy Bremner, Don’s captain in hundreds of 
glorious Leeds United battles at home and in Europe.

Tony was also correct on his comments regarding Gerry Francis and Albert Johanneson.

As early black pioneers in the game, they too should be recognised in some way by our club.

Leeds 2023 will bring benefits across the city

Coun Jessica Lennox, Cross Gates and Whinmoor

I welcome the news that the great benefits that Leeds 2023 can bring will not be lost with our exit from the European Capital of Culture scheme.

Indeed, now that Leeds is no longer bound by the prescriptive framework of that bid, we have a far better opportunity to deliver a meaningful celebration of our cultural diversity and a range of exciting new opportunities for people of all ages.

As a result of cuts and short-sighted choices by national government, there are major social inequalities in the levels of popular access to arts and culture.

With Leeds 2023 we have the opportunity to truly connect with communities across our city, and begin redressing that imbalance. From the more deprived city-centre “donut”, to other traditionally overlooked areas - such as the ones I represent in East Leeds - we can support the growth of new ideas and break down those social and economic barriers to participation.

Leeds 2023 will enable community-driven projects like Chapel FM, LS14 Trust, Space 2 and the exciting new East Leeds Project to inspire and empower more people in East Leeds to participate in collaborative, creative, positive social action.

Local research shows that 68% of Chapel FM’s 18,000 visitors in the last year were from the LS14 and LS15 postcodes, demonstrating that by having facilities accessible in the community, local people have a greatly improved level of participation in culture.

The effects will be wide-ranging, bringing arts and culture directly to the doorsteps of those who will benefit from its proven impact on community cohesion; on educational attainment; emotional health and well-being; along with other benefits such as new types of education and training; creativity and expression for young people; regeneration of community assets, and new jobs and opportunities.

The benefits that Leeds 2023 will bring to East Leeds are undeniable, and the story can be the same across the city.

Working under this administration towards a truly inclusive year of cultural celebration in 2023, Leeds can embrace our status as a creative and compassionate city; an eclectic place to live, work and visit, where access to culture is not restricted by postcode or neighbourhood, but is available for all.

Researching family history

John Noble, by email

I am continuing to research the Pape family of Leeds, my late mother’s family.

She was Sheila Pape. Her mother Lilian was one of six children. The four sons all fought in WW1. William was killed in the Battle of Arras in 1917 and has no known grave. James was killed in action in Sept 1916 aged just 20. He and eldest brother Ernest had survived the horrendous first day of the Somme, though their Leeds Pals battalion was almost wiped out in a few hours.

Ernest survived the war and I believe had several jobs before becoming a publican. He died in the 80s. The other brother, Arnold also survived the war, having served in the Royal Field Artillery. I don’t know what became of my grandmother’s sister, Jessie. Their father, William Markham Pape was a master tailor and clothing manufacturer in Leeds, with premises in Grace Street I believe.

I am sure there are still members of the Pape family in and around the Leeds area. As I live in Devon, and am now a pensioner myself, I don’t get to visit Leeds.

If any of your readers can help with any information at all I would be very grateful. My email address is [email protected]

How does the park and ride service pay?

Ernest Lundy, by email

In position to see a never ending stream of park and ride buses going (both ways) in to and back from the city, at off peak times via the busiest road in the city, the M621, how can the service pay when they were nearly all empty? To say nothing of the fuel used and the pollution created.

In spite of the boast that the scheme is a success, surely a better system could be devised to make the service less extravagant as well as profitable.

We are told there are already plans for two more, one of which will also be running through south Leeds, where everything goes.

Time for PM to be removed

Derrick Bond, Shadwell

The obstinacy and arrogance of Theresa May in denying that the Chequers deal on Brexit is anything other than an exercise in appeasement of the EU does not wash with the electorate.

This comes on top of two years of waffle, obfuscation, incompetence, bullying and devious dealings.

As I see it, it can only have one consequence: Mrs May’s removal as Prime Minister.

Taking more cash from taxpayers

R Watkinson, by email

I just got back from Spain where parking charges were 25 cents for one hour and nine hours for 2 Euro 25 cents.

Come to Leeds and the council only thinks of ways to get more money from the tax payers then wastes it on some mad scheme that never works, so more money down the drain.

When you think of all the monies the authority has wasted over the years it must run into millions or even billions.

Battlefields visit planned

David Raw, The Stable, Kirkland Road, Skirwith, Cumbria CA10 1RL

2018 marks the Centenary of the Armistice ending the First World War and also the Centenary of the Royal Air Force.

To mark the occasion I will be leading a coach party to visit France and Belgium to follow the events of 1918 on the battlefields between October 21-26. We will follow the German Spring advance and the Allied response and victory in the Autumn.

En route we will visit the Centenary exhibition at the Royal Air Force Museum in London to see original planes used in the war.

We will visit the Armistice Railway Carriage in France and sites associated with the Red Baron Manfred von Richthofen and Mick Mannock VC, the Cumbrian padre TB Hardy VC DSO MC and the poet Wilfred Owen.

We will also take part in the Menin Gate Ceremony in Ieper. There will be an opportunity to visit a relative’s grave or memorial by prior arrangement. We still have a few places left. If any of your readers would like more details I can be contacted on 01368 866826 or by email [email protected] and by post at the above address.

‘Try walking in our shoes’

David Mitchell, National Chairman, The British Polio Fellowship

In calling for the removal of the 20 metre rule when it comes to PIP (Personal Independence Payment) assessments, the MP for Rochdale, Tony Lloyd, has the backing of The British Polio Fellowship.

It is outrageous a claimant who can walk one step over 20m, (with mobility aids and no matter how long it takes them), will not qualify for the higher rate of mobility 
support.

These sorts of limits are presumably devised by the able bodied, with no concept of reality. 85 per cent of us live within 590m of a bus stop, making the old 50m Disability Living Allowance (DLA) figure inadequate.

Someone with Post Polio Syndrome (PPS) may be fine over short distances, until fatigue takes its toll.

Our members have won on appeal thanks to our support services staff, but left seriously out of pocket as a consequence. People who can no longer work after losing mobility cars cease to be taxpayers and become benefit dependent.

Even ignoring the moral argument, how can this be right or save the country money?

The British Polio Fellowship will work with anyone to help ensure our members can live full and independent lives for longer and this is another PIP problem that needs a rethink from people who ought to try walking 20m in our shoes.

If you need our support, call us on 0800 043 1935 or visit www.britishpolio.org.uk

Rescue joy

ME Wright, Harrogate.

COULD there be better news than the safe recovery of the Thai footballers and their coach?

Let’s hope that the bravery of the boys and their rescuers is not devalued by allowing some accountant to fulminate on how much it cost!

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