Hear All Sides

Darlington FC

HERE we are in November and all the promise of promotion has now gone for Darlington FC.

All we hear is: "We play well but can't score." Well isn't that the point in football, to score goals?

The fans can see what we are crying out for, and even Gary Bennett could see that before he resigned.

We are now told that loan signings are all that are available. With the crowds decreasing and the team slipping further down the table, what will it take before George Reynolds realises that he must start spending money on the playing staff if he wants a successful team.

The chance of promotion has, in my opinion, gone, but who will take the blame?

We may next season have the best stadium outside the Premiership, but it is this season that counts and drastic changes to Darlington's transfer policy must be made if we are ever to get out of Division Three. Over to you George.- D Taylor, Darlington.

I CANNOT understand how the Darlington management fails to see that the football we play is awful to watch. The build-up is pathetic, too slow. By the time we reach the halfway line it gives the opponents all the time to fall back and nullify our shots at goal.

I have been an ardent fan for many years and I will forecast that unless we adopt a more direct approach - I mean attacking football - we will be in serious danger of losing our support and League status. - F Wealands, Darlington.

SISTER DORA

IN reply to Mrs Newell's letter (HAS, Nov 2), I would be interested to know how long Mrs Newell has lived at Aiskew or how long ago it was that she inquired in Hauxwell about Sister Dora.

I can only presume that she did not speak to anyone who was born and brought up in Hauxwell, as I was.

We, in fact, were taught the life story of Sister Dora at school over 60 years ago. I also have a book on Sister Dora's life which I have had for many years. - E Lawson, Hauxwell, Leyburn.

PHOTO PROCESSING

I RECENTLY sent away some films to be developed. On their return, I was disappointed to find I had chopped the top off the London Eye, chopped a man off his barge and missed off the top of photos of Princess Diana at Kensington Palace gates.

When I looked at the negatives, all these missing pieces were present. Complaints to the firm were not satisfactory.

To the rescue came the Boots store in Richmond. The staff were so helpful and were able to print the photos without losing the best bits.

Thanks to Boots and a warning to all snappers, check your negatives and don't believe the prints are always right. - Joyce Rutter, Richmond.

DIAL-A-RIDE

IT is with sadness I read of the possible cessation of the Dial-a-Ride service (Echo, Nov 2) due to lack of funding. This service is manned by dedicated, caring, unpaid volunteers.

There is no substitute. The taxis are not only more expensive, but they do not offer the necessary help to the disabled and elderly who are unable to travel on buses. There are not sufficient wheelchair taxis to meet the demand.

Lots of elderly and wheelchair passengers will be confined to their homes. They need to be able to get to their doctors' surgeries, hospital appointments, chiropodists. They also need to go to the town with their carers to do a bit of shopping or perhaps to an Over 60s club where they can play dominoes or whist and chat over a cup of tea with their friends.

Dial-aoRide needs to have a fundraiser who could greatly enhance the funds. Maybe local businesses would be happy to help such a worthy cause. The Lottery Fund perhaps? - Vera E Wilson, Darlingnton.

REMEMBRANCE DAY

BECAUSE viewers from other countries may not understand the significance of international presenters wearing poppies, the BBC has banned them from wearing them.

The poppy is this country's emblem of remembrance for the people who died fighting for the freedom of this country and the many civilians who were killed in bombing raids.

The BBC should be ashamed of this ban, which is an insult to the British people who, if the BBC has forgotten, financially support them by paying a licence fee, which, after this insult, should be scrapped and let it fend for itself. - TE Crook, Bishop Auckland.

I THINK the BBC is mistaken in taking the view that its presenters on its international BBC World TV channel should not wear poppies on air (Echo, Nov 3).

While it is true that the symbol may not be widely recognised abroad, this could be overcome by the presenter giving a very brief word of explanation.

Why should viewers across the world not be informed that British people are proud to remember those who have given their lives in the service of their country? - EA Moralee, Billingham.

FIREWORKS

I HAVE some sympathy with the petitioners campaigning for a ban on the public sale of fireworks (Echo, Nov 5), particularly as they are now in use over such an inordinately long season.

Fireworks are already illegal throughout Ireland, but they still circulate, and a Garda (police) warning has been issued about highly dangerous devices from the Far East.

They are sufficiently common, what is more, that shots fired in a domestic incident in Dublin were taken to be 'early Halloween fireworks' by neighbours.

Bearing in mind constraints of police resources and priorities, would a ban be any more effective here?

At present, at least, most fireworks sales take place subject to regulations against the most dangerous products and sales to children.- P Ewan, Middlesbrough.