Hear All Sides: KENNETH WOLSTENHOLME

None of us in a nation that loves football will ever forget his immortal words, those 14 words quoted probably more than any others in the English language: "Some people are on the pitch. They think it's all over. It is now."

Those words as Geoff Hurst, now Sir Geoff, bore down on the German's goal to complete his hat trick in the 1966 World Cup final will stay with me and many other lovers of the beautiful game until we reach the Wembley in the sky.

Ken received just sixty quid for his legendary commentary on that all-important game but in truth those words are "priceless".

He joined the BBC in 1948 and commentated on 23 successive FA Cup Finals and five World Cups. In recent years he presented Channel 4's coverage of Italian soccer.

His passion for England's football team was clearly undiminished and he was optimistic about the chances of Sven Goran Eriksson's side in Japan this summer. But for Wolstenholme nothing could eclipse Sir Alf Ramsey's Boys of '66. "It wasn't just a team," he used to say. "Alf Ramsey formed a football club in 1966. I have always felt privileged to be part of it."

Fittingly, his greatest moment also provides a perfect, if irreverent epitaph. 'They think it's all over. It is now." - John Riddle, Hartlepool.

RELIGION

REGARDING the controversy at Emmanuel College, Gateshead, (Echo, Mar 15) it is right that children should be taught about both the theory of evolution and the theory of creation.

As an atheist, I think it is important that children should learn to be open minded and to respect differing theological viewpoints. There are plenty of intelligent people who accept the theory of evolution, but still retain their faith in a Divine Creator.

However, creationists who insist that the universe is only a few thousand years old, and reject geological evidence to the contrary as "atheistic propaganda" succeed only in making themselves appear ridiculous, rather like those Jewish fundamentalists who argued for a ban on a brand of yoghurt because the label featured a cartoon picture of another atheist invention, the dinosaur. - Pete Winstanley, Chester le Street.

I WAS amazed that the head of Emmanuel College says that there is a big question over the scientific evidence with regard to evolution (Echo, Mar 15). Evidence from all branches of science indicates that the universe is billions, not a few thousand, years old.

Perhaps Emmanuel will teach that everything is made from earth, air, fire and water - the four elements of the ancients - or give alchemy equal time to modern chemistry. Emmanuel might also teach that the sun orbiting the Earth is just as valid a truth as that the Earth orbits the sun.

Emmanuel, a college of technology that teaches creationism - surely a contradiction in terms. - Eric Gendle, Middlesbrough.

DARWIN'S Theory of Evolution is by no means scientifically foolproof (Echo, Mar 15). We are not talking about the idea that we come from monkeys, but the idea that environmental changes occasionally mean that chance mutations in animals and plants give their possessors an edge in the reproductive struggle.

This theory was scientifically untenable when Darwin first propounded it and now it is scientifically indefensible. What is more, its quite irrational success in the last 100 years or so has been an ethical and cultural disaster.

But the churches have been far from blameless. By arrogantly sticking to the doctrine of human uniqueness, based on an inappropriate reading of the Bible, they have played right into the hands of atheistic pseudo-science. - Tony Kelly, Crook.

MANY who speak for the Church of England no longer talk about sinners and sinning on the grounds that you don't attract new customers by calling them names (Echo, Mar 18), but the problem is of much longer standing.

Too often, the forgiveness of sins was taught in a negative fashion, as an end in itself, when in fact it is the first essential step in the beginning of a journey.

The purpose of Christ's coming was the transformation of man through union with God. The first step towards that perfection involves admitting that we are far from perfect and asking for that help and cleansing which God wants to give us. Then the New Life can begin. - Rev TJ Towers, Langley Park.

CANON Edward Norman in the article "Is the Church beyond salvation?" (Echo, Mar 12) says that "the decline is inexorable and there is nothing that indicates it is going to survive in the West". This is the sort of doomsday prophesy that saw the decline and fall of civilisations throughout our history.

Canon Norman is correct when he puts the demise of the church at its own door. Whether the demise is permanent is part of the question of whether the British way of life can survive.

Are we falling into the trap called humanist values and freedom to do whatever we like at the expense of responsibility and the need for a moral responsibility that puts the nation first? - John Young, Crook.

CANON Norman is sure to have shaken many with his strong views (Echo, Mar 12). He does, however, speak a lot of sense.

All denominations of the church have spent far too much time trying to be popular with everyone, suggesting freedom of choice and welfare and little more are the essence of Christianity. The way to halt, even reverse, the decline of Christianity is to return to full and accurate Biblical teaching by the Church and Christ-like behaviour by his adherents. - EA Moralee, Billingham.

I WAS saddened to read (Echo, Mar 20) that 800 years of church history are at an end in Stanhope.

Much is blamed on costs and the difficulty of recruiting new vicars in rural areas. But no such difficulties occurred when two new archdeacons were to be appointed. Three archdeacons in Durham Diocese is excessive. What is needed in Durham is a rethink taking into account the people in the pews. They generate the money. - L Cousins, Norton, Stockton.