Chester Chronicle letters

Dec 19 2003 Daily Post

EVERY year thousands of animals around the world, such as hamsters, rabbits and guinea pigs, still suffer and die in cruel and pointless cosmetics testing.

Add a little compassion to your Christmas list this year and contact the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) for a 'Little Book of Cruelty Free'. Our essential free pocket-sized guide to cosmetics and toiletries approved under the Humane Cosmetics Standard as 'not tested on animals', which will help shop-pers find the perfect cruelty-free gifts.

Christmas is about compassion - so help extend some compassion to animals as well as people by going cruelty-free.

If you send us a small donation with your 'Little Book' request, we'll also send you a free copy of our Health With Humanity Charities Guide to help you support medical research this Christmas -but without supporting animal testing.

WENDY HIGGINS, Campaigns Director BUAV 16a Crane Grove London N7 8NN

TONY Blair recently launched his Big Conversation to remind us that the government cares about what we think.

Does this mean we will now see positive action on GM crops and food, the EU constitution, drugs, asylum, foundation hospitals, university tuition fees, parliamentary democracy, hospital waiting lists, council tax reform, prisons, the House of Lords, pensions and the state of our road and rail transport?

Unfortunately, Tony Blair has shown little evidence of listening to the people in the past. Perhaps we will now see changes in government policy or else the Big Conversation will become known as the Big Con.

STEVE ALLEN Chairman, Chester Christian Peoples Alliance

I AM doing my family tree and I am trying to contact any relations of Pollie Brown, my late grandmother.

I believe they are living in the Helsby area. Pollie lived at 'Caldy Rise' Irby Road, Heswall from approx 1938 until she passed away in July 1959.

She married Bertie Franckel and the couple had six girls. Pollie had three sisters; Leah, Lucy and Tess and a brother Sydney. I would love to hear from any relations.

Mary Mitchell (Nee Barbet) Chatterton Street, Southwick Sunderland Tyne-Wear

The Chronicle Frodsham and Helsby edition December 12 reported on the proposed development of Castle Park last week but did not mention the planned Medical Centre.

This would occupy a large building and require parking facilities for patients and up to forty staff, and would therefore generate considerable traffic.

SHEILA HOLROYD

THE British Korean Veterans Association is trying to contact former members of HM Armed Forces who served in Korea/Japan from 1950-1953, and also those servicemen and women who served in these two places at a later date with the Peace Keeping Force 1953-1957.

This appeal includes former members of the Merchant Navy, NAAFI, Red Cross and WRVS. Any interested veteran should contact me, at the address below. A SAE would be much appreciated for return correspondence.

BRIAN HOUGH (ex-Kings Liverpool Regiment) National Recruitment Officer, British Korean Veterans Association, 11 Wardle Brook Walk, Hattersley, Cheshire.

I SEE in your paper last week that the EU are contributing £400,000 to help create a promenade for cyclists and pedestrians along the Dee between the Groves and the Old Port at Chester.

Before we fall off our seat with wonder and gratitude at this bounty from Brussels, let us recall that for every such grant the area concerned has to supply an equal amount of money and the EU collects an arrangement fee for its trouble.

Even more important, Britain has to contribute to the Brussels Budget and this amounts to about double the sum we receive from the Eurocrats.

In fact, in all but one year since we signed up to EU membership in 1973 we have run a heavy net financial deficit with Brussels.

So, it would be much more economic for us to finance our own projects. A lot of people agree with this outlook as over the EU area more than 50% of voters now reject the EU concept according to a recent survey by a national newspaper.

Finally, let us not forget that the only viable political party to advocate the withdrawal of Britain from the EU is the UK Independence Party.

N C NICHOLS Press Officer, Chester Branch, UK Independence Party, Chester,

AT 11.30am on December 14, I was at the eastern end of Foregate Street.

The heavy rain had ceased, the wind had eased and the sun was shining brightly. With the thrill of Christmas shopping at its height, the pavements were crowded. Bustle was everywhere.

As I made a slow progress through the throng I heard the sound of seasonal music coming from the shops. I paused at the portal of the Grosvenor Hotel to watch the tall, top-hatted, resplendently dressed commissionaire-saluting guests as they entered and left the hotel.

Two magnificent limousines stood in the hotel lay-by. What famous, wise, important, or merely moneyed guests were inside the prestigious building?

My concentration returned to the throb of music, wonder, excitement and exhilaration in Eastgate Street, and I heard an inner voice hinting that not all celebrations of Noël are tinged by the manufactured magic of a commercial Christmas.

At 11.30pm that same day I was again at the eastern end of Foregate Street. The streets were almost deserted. Few cars were to be seen. The night was cold. The sky was clear. The stars shone brightly. The moon was in its third quarter. I reflected on what might portend for the remaining days of this politically difficult year.

I recovered from my reverie to the sound of 'God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay: remember Christ the Saviour was born on Christmas Day' - I felt drawn to the early days of my childhood.

How I puzzled then over the need for God to bring rest to the merry gentlemen who, no doubt, had been imbibing too generously.

From the direction of Grosvenor Park a group of soberly dressed people in Victorian clothes and carrying lanterns came into view. Their calm progress and harmonious singing brought a sense of peace and relaxation upon me. I fell into step beside them.

We processed toward Eastgate Street and were joined by individuals, couples and small groups. The entrance doors of the Grosvenor Hotel were locked, but a receptionist stood on duty at his desk far within the foyer. Our company formed a perfect circle round the lay-by at the front.

In imagination, I no longer stood outside the portal of a prestigious establishment. I was before the draughty door of a simple stable which stood close to a humble inn. A bearded man in a long cloak was holding the halter of a donkey, upon which sat a young pregnant woman.

As the Cathedral Bell Tower struck midnight a single golden note of a hand bell rang out from under the Jubilee Clock. I raised my eyes. High in the sky a bright star twinkled. The sound of a softly sung carol came to my ears - 'Silent night, holy night; all is calm, all is bright'.

As I, and those around me, joined the singing, my childhood memories flooded back. I was sitting at the feet of my beloved German grandmother. In her calm quiet measured manner she was telling me of the true spirit and message of Christmas.

The carol ended. There was a period of complete silence. Then a loud voice called 'Peace on earth and goodwill to all men'. As one, we each turned to shake the hand of those on either side of us. Amen! So be it!

ALAN BONNER Meadow Lane, Huntington, Chester

AS chairwoman of the county council, I feel extremely privileged to be invited to celebrations both big and small across the county - particularly at this time of year.

All the events are very different in style and presentation - yet Christmas weaves its magic to reveal something which can so easily be taken for granted - the common bond which binds our communities.

Christmas allows us all to take time out of our busy lives to celebrate so many things we hold dear. My four grandchildren over the years have each given me the priceless gifts of being able to see Christmas through their eyes and share their excitement and delight as they unwrap their presents.

Such moments and memories are all the more precious because some people will not be with their loved ones or able to take part in celebrations - indeed, the festive season contains many stark contrasts.

That is why I would like to wish everyone in Cheshire a heartfelt Merry Christmas and the very best for the new year.

I hope that 2004 contains precious moments and many happy memories for you all, and I look forward to witnessing what I regard not just as the Christmas Spirit but the Cheshire Spirit throughout the coming year.

CLLR NORA DOLPHIN Cheshire County Council

THE other evening I listened in to a conversation from the eastern seaboard of North America.

Two US operators and a Canadian were discussing elements of George W Bush's decision not to include Canada in the reconstruction programme for Iraq. In a jocular manner, one US operator said to the Canadian 'so there'll be no pudding for you, Irene', to which Irene replied 'c'est la vie, Frank, c'est la vie.'

The easy way they switched from one language to the other undermines the general relationship, but also isolates the current Canadian Prime Minister's support for France and its stance on Iraq.

Jacques Chirac has long had friendly relationships with Iraq and Saddam Hussein. In 1974 Chirac travelled to Baghdad to conclude negotiations with Iraq for the purchase of nuclear reactors, and in September 1975 Saddam travelled to Paris, where he and Chirac signed an agreement for Iraq to purchase two nuclear reactors.

One was a 70-megawatt reactor, with enough weapons grade-enriched uranium to produce four nuclear devices. France also trained 600 Iraqi nuclear technicians and scientists which became the backbone of Iraq's capability.

Even Russia turned down such assistance: in 1981 the Israelis bombed the reactor and did us all a great service.

In the early 1990s the French oil company Total Fina Elf signed a lock-out agreement to share oil from the Majnoon and Bin Omar fields as soon as United Nations sanctions ended.

During the 1990s France continually sided with Iraq when other members of the Security Council sought to punish it for flagrant breaches of council resolutions - binding international laws.

George W Bush's decision to confront Iraq had serious economic implications for France.

There are covert reasons for France's position to Iraq (and Argentina, to whom they sold Exocet missiles in the Falklands War) but also straightforward ones.

The Moslem community is growing fast through Europe and nowhere more than in France. Ten per cent of France's population is now ethnically Arab.

In the summer of 2002 Chancellor Gerhard Schroder ran for re-election against America and its concerns over Iraq.

When one considers the role of the US during and after the Second World War and our combined efforts to rebuild Germany, one can only wonder at the reckless and imprudent policies and rhetoric of Germany and France.

The Poles, however, have long memories. They provided two fighter squadrons during the Battle of Britain and came on side again during the war against Iraq.

There has long been an atmosphere in France and Germany of anti-American feeling amongst the political elite but not among ordinary people.

We in Britain should value the friend-ship of the United States.

Franklin Roosevelt was our best friend in 1940 and his support to Churchill made survival possible. John Kennedy was our ally in resisting Soviet tyranny and the same is now true of Bush in resisting the threat of terrorism.

Bush is not everyone's cup of tea, but he is a man of character and courage and he is a reliable friend.

I am a strong advocate of the giving and receiving of gifts and favours, and I suspect there is 'no pudding for France'!

OLD WAVERTONIAN Name and address withheld