Letters, December 27 2013

The recent high tides have given rise to national media coverage, newspapers and radio, where they talk about the village of Horsey.

The broadcasters have chosen to pronounce the name of the village as though it was spelled ‘hawse see’ or even ‘hoare’s sea’; whereas natives of the village and those from surrounding parishes have pronounced it as though it was spelt as ‘horse ee’ for as long as I can remember.

As a member of FOND (Friends of the Norfolk Dialect) I would regret the passing of the traditional local pronunciation of Horsey even if guidance comes from the fine ladies and gentlemen of the metropolitan media or even more local. Am I alone in this?

ANDREW FAKES

Lawn Avenue,

Great Yarmouth

More demands from our MPs

I see our greedy MPs now want their TV licences and home insurance paid for by the taxpayer. What is the world coming to? Whatever next! Local and county councillors will be wanting free ipads and laptops ...oh, I forgot they already have them!

BRIAN BUNN

Email

Reconsider the hospice plans

It is a great disappointment to learn that plans to fundraise for an inpatient palliative care unit at the James Paget University Hospital have been withdrawn. I was privileged to spend some time working with the palliative care team a few years ago and have the opportunity to observe the excellent work that this team does.

My understanding of having an inpatient unit at the JPH was to provide short stay admissions for specialist palliative care, whereas the fundraising by East Coast Hospices was to build a more “traditional” long stay hospice predominantly providing end of life care.

Both of these projects are very much needed by the local community and should not be in competition with each other, thus I would appeal for the decision to stop Palliative Care East fundraising for their unit to be seriously reconsidered.

Dr REBECCA THOMPSON

GP registrar

Lovely Customs House left to rot

After reading in the Mercury about eyesore buildings one immediately came to mind on the quay: the old Port and Haven Customs House. This lovely old building has been left to rot and has broken windows. One of the piers on the seafront has been truly vandalised. Not a good advert for the town.

E R ROLLASON

email

We need extra help and funds

What amazing news to learn that we are a deprived borough and need “Assisted Status”. (Mercury, 20/12). It has only taken the Government three and a half years to realise that. Meanwhile, it looks like the councils will face more cuts to help us further into deprivation and remove money from the local economy.

Presumably this could affect council help to the unemployed which provided an encouraging story last week and highlights how more could be done. Reading the detail, it only means we may be able to apply for extra help to revitalise the local economy.

We had good news in the past about applying for extra help. We applied for help from the Portis fund to help the town centre and lost. We were told we were applying to get the concessionary bus pass money refunded in full but only got some.

MPs sought rail improvements and locally we got none. The MPs seek improvements to the A47 and we got none. Our MP campaigned for a new railway station (without better services) and we still await any progress.

We hope to get help towards the flood and erosion problem but Peter Aldous MP is less sure and has to raise the issue with ministers as funding is not automatic.

I am bidding to win the Lottery but I do not expect to win so that is hardly news either. The good news will be when we gain extra help and extra jobs are created.

CHRIS WRIGHT,

Victoria Street,

Caister on Sea

Groynes would have killed sea

Just over 31 years ago, I studied the cliffs and sea, which even then was causing erosion on the coast from Scratby to Sidestrand. I wrote to government departments and councils and suggested rock groynes be laid down.

I said at that time much of the coastal villages would be under the sea within 20-odd years.

I drew plans for my suggestions: the groynes would have killed the force of the tide before it reached the coast. These groynes, 300-400 yards from as it was then the low water mark, would have let some sea through and this would have brought in sand to enhance the beaches.

The cliffs have water draining from them in wet and dry periods causing them to be unstable.

Someone at North Norfolk District Council I believe said do nothing. Later they said putting rocks at the foot of cliffs will still cause the cliffs to fall. It now appears there is not enough money to do that, yet this government has recently found enough money to shower to the EU. This amount would have stopped any erosion around the British Isles.

Hopefully at the next general election we shall have a government that gets its priorities right with more thought for Great Britain and a lot of commonsense.

JACK EDMONDS

Queensway,

Caister on Sea

Louise Hamilton: Uplifting centre

Having used the Louise Hamilton Centre, I felt a need to convey to the public what an uplifting and beautiful place it is. I have recently had bereavement counselling and would like to thank all those involved in my care. The centre is such a tranquil place, a haven for all those who seek help when they find themselves in a vulnerable position.

Whether you are diagnosed with an illness or you are caring for a loved one the centre is open to you. The staff and volunteers are friendly and offer a listening ear and a much needed cup of tea. Please, please make use of these wonderful facilities; I would not have coped without it. It certainly saved me.

CAROL READ

Gorleston

Concert was a harmonious hit

I would like to give thanks and highlight the justly outstanding work that went into making this year’s Inter-school Christmas Concert at Cliff Park Junior School such a harmonious success. Featuring a myriad of musicians of varying grades and ages, most from different schools in the area, it really was wonderful to see everyone who took part really give it their all.

They can be proud those days and nights of solid practice really paid off, and as such they can look forward to great things in the future if they choose to show dedication to making fine music for us all to enjoy.

From the delightful opening piece, sung brilliantly by Jamie Harrison (who also moonlights as the Little Drummer Boy!), to bright, festive orchestral arrangements featuring the Inter-School orchestra in their respective ensembles, to rocking piano pieces, and as an extra stocking filler, some very well played flute and trumpet pieces, we were whisked away on a veritable sleigh ride of musical frankincense and myrrh; that being the true spirit of Christmas was very much abound in the brightly arranged, feel-good festive scores.

Big thanks to Sylvia Saxby, Ruth Harrison, Deanna Bernthal, Barry Carbon and John Mudd; for without their untiring dedication to teaching, encouraging and performing music for others to enjoy, this concert would not have taken place. Thanks also to Chris Tye, head-teacher at Cliff Park Juniors and Graham Young from Cliff Park High for their part in ensuring there was somewhere to hold rehearsal sessions and providing somewhere to hold the concert!

A special mention too, for Matthew Lee from Norfolk Music Service, many thanks for supporting the venture and showing your support on the evening too.

And of course a massive thank you to everyone in the orchestra who played their chosen instruments so well and should be exceptionally proud of their wonderful achievement. Keep up the outstanding work!

EDMUND EARLE

Gorleston

Today’s hospital are staff superb

How much we agree with your correspondent Bob Annison. My husband, 81, was in hospital ward 7 at about the same time having a hip replacement. We were asked by the hospital NHS director what we thought of care. We said it was exceptional. All staff were terrific, everything was monitored, clean and efficient.

As a nurse of the 50s/60s era we have all thought we were better...well we were not! Things have moved on and today’s staff were superb. Thank you all.

GILL and CHARLES RUDGE

email

Anyone recall Hoot Carlson?

I am writing in reply to C A Balls’ letter in the Mercury, December 13. I remember Hoot Carlson, he was my sister’s mother in law’s husband. I knew he worked on the rigs and was a regular at the Star and Garter in Great Yarmouth when he was onshore. I believe he originally came from Canada.

P TURNER

St Margaret’s Way,

Fleggburgh

Thank you for handing in keys

Thank you to the kind lady who handed our car keys into Sainsbury’s customer services on Sunday, December 22 after we left them hanging in the boot of the car, only realising an hour later when returning to car after shopping in town. Nice to know there are good Samaritans about.

SANDRA WEBB

Filby

Gorleston rail station appeal

Does anybody have a plan of Gorleston-on-sea railway station and yard? I’m particularly interested in the layout of tracks and buildings in the yard and the station from the old Lowestoft Road bridge to the Bridge Road bridge. This information is for a personal project and I can be contacted at dw@i-3dmedia.com and 0789 9997698.

DAVID WILKINSON

Thanks for help for our mum

May we, through your letters page, give our sincere thanks to the many people who helped our mother when she had a nasty fall outside St Georges’ Court on Saturday, December 21.

Some anonymous passers-by stopped to help, one lady cradling mother’s head and talking to her calmly for over half an hour while we waited for medical help.

The weather was cold and wet and people gave up coats and umbrellas to make mother more comfortable. Thanks especially to Stephanie for the loan of her lovely, warm coat!

Particular thanks go to the staff and cast of Jack and the Beanstalk at St Georges’ Theatre, who provided blankets, practical help and re-assurance. The “villain” in the panto is really a very nice, kind man!

Fortunately our mother has no serious injuries and hopefully will make a speedy recovery.

Our heartfelt thanks once again to all those lovely people who showed the true spirit of Christmas kindness.

The OLDHAM FAMILY

email

Sleigh appeal raised £6,500

May I take this opportunity through your letters column to thank all those people who have supported the Santa’s Sleigh Appeal for 2013 as organised by the Great Yarmouth Lions Club.

In addition to delighting many hundreds of children with Santa’s visit I am pleased to announce that despite the difficult economic climate this year the appeal has raised around £6,500 for the club’s charity account.

The Yarmouth Lions Club has given in the region of £10,000 to the local community in the last 12 months ranging from larger donations to Meningitis UK and the Teenage Cancer Trust together with numerous smaller organisations and many deserving individuals living in the area, as well as supporting international appeals through the Lions Clubs International Foundation.

Members have also organised parties and outings for the less fortunate members of our society. The club is currently raising funds for the President’s Appeal together with a number of smaller projects in 2014.

The club would also like to thank its sponsors together with Yarmouth Police for their support in keeping the seigh on the road. Special thanks to Kingswood Conservatories for providing Santa and his reindeer with a temporary stable during the appeal.

Members thank all who have supported Lions events and appeals during 2013 and wish everyone a Happy New Year for 2014. For further information on Lions activities in the Great Yarmouth area please contact the Club Secretary on 0845 833 9609.

GRAHAM GIBBINS

Club Secretary

John the ‘father’ of fish fingers

It was with great sadness that I read of the sudden death of John Scott in last Friday’s Mercury. I have known him since he and I were 12 year olds.

We were evacuees when our school moved to Retford in June 1940, we both did our post war National Service in Royal Signals (in different locations) and we both worked at Birds Eye factories.

Most of his time and some of mine was spent in the new products development department by the riverside. He became the “father” of fish fingers, leading the team that developed the process to full scale manufacture. It was a very successful product and many more came from his efforts.

After retirement we both joined the Unilever scheme for pensioner visiting.

From A level maths to army rank and management grade John was always a rung or two above me but this never interfered with our friendship. He was a true friend. Now he is gone I mourn his passing.

LIONEL BALLS

Bure Close

Great Yarmouth

Thanks to all our supporters

From the teams at the local Sue Ryder shops in Great Yarmouth and Gorleston a huge heartfelt thank you to everybody who has supported us over the past 12 months and made the charity’s 60th year one to remember.

Your generosity and support has been amazing, and has helped Sue Ryder provide incredible hospice and neurological care to over 16,000 people living with life-changing illness across the UK.

Over the past year local people have supported us through an array of ways including, donating unwanted items, shopping with us, volunteering their time to help the shop raise vital funds and getting involved in fundraising activities. Thank you so much.

Right now, 1 in 4 of us is living with a life-changing illness that needs specialist care. That’s 18 million people in the UK today. We all hope this won’t touch us personally. But the sad reality is that one day it could. With your help we can continue to support people, and their families, with the care they need and deserve.

Thank you once again to everybody who has supported us throughout 2013. We wish you a very happy New Year.

THE TEAMS

Sue Ryder charity shops

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston

Competition meal was lovely

I won the competition for a carvery meal at Potters in Hopton. We went on Sunday, December 8 and we had a lovely meal, the best I have ever had. Thank you Mercury and thank you Potters.

Mrs D TOWNSIN

St Francis Way,

Great Yarmouth