OUR daughter Emma was seriously injured last week in Gorleston High Street. We would like to thank all the wonderful people who came to help her, some just by holding her hand and talking to her.

OUR daughter Emma was seriously injured last week in Gorleston High Street. We would like to thank all the wonderful people who came to help her, some just by holding her hand and talking to her. We have since found out some names; Ross from the chemist, John from the Tramway and Katrina from North Sea Medi-cal, who phoned me to let me know what had happened and stayed with Emma to try and keep her calm.

Thanks also to the paramedics, the resus ream waiting for Emma in A&E: she can remember Pam Cushing talking to her. Pam reminded her of Lara, a doctorin the Casualty TV drama series. She was also very kind to us. There is also Sara who was with us and Emma until she was taken by air ambulance to the N&N. We can-not remember all the names but to all who helped in anyway we cannot thank you enough.

Throughout the accident and subsequent treatment, Emma never lost consciousness and she would like to thank the crew of the air ambulance especially for the joke about winding up the rubber band before take off. Staff at the N&N have also been wonderful to her and so kind; without their support through these last few days I am not sure how we all would have coped.

Until late Thursday, as it stated on the front page of The Mercury, we all hoped Emma's leg could be saved, unfortunately this is not the case. By the time you read this she will have had her fourth op in seven days to remove her lower leg and have plastic surgery to her right foot. She is being very brave but we're sure there will be some dark days ahead.

She has received so many cards and gifts and has amazed people by writing thank you's to most people already. Emma would like to say a big thank you to The Mercury for the article last Friday.

Mr and Mrs Willets, the couple injured, have been in touch to say they are thinking of her and wish her well and she wishes the same for them. Coral have been wonderful too, customers and staff, and she is looking forward to going back to work hopefully in a few months.

Once again a very big thank you from Emma and her family to anyone involved on the day and since, it's nice to know so many people care.

CAROL, KEVAN & TOM WOOLNOUGH,

Uppercliff Road

Gorleston

I READ with delight the news that Gorleston beach huts were to be demolished, for as long as I remember the beach huts have been a constant annoyance to both me and my partner. I believe Gorleston has one of the nicest beaches in the area, if not the UK. Unfortunately the beach huts are a magnet for litter, graffiti and van-dalism, which massively reduces the aesthetic attraction of Gorleston and puts tourists off coming to the area. At night these beach huts are a nuisance with yobs and kids making trouble. And as a local dog walker they can be quite intimidating.

CHRIS CORBY

Sussex Road

THANKS to councillor Gerry Cook at last our council is responding to what most Gorlestonians want in demolishing the unsightly beach “huts” on the promenade, which never were the best idea in their style. In fact never fit for purpose in their positioning or design.

It is pleasing to see our council is also making more of an effort in other ways as well along the seafront of late. Hopefully residents are now being taken more seri-ously.

Can something can now be done about the pier car park and fishermen's shelters. Some of the new super seats for the Roman shelters would be great.

If the volunteer lifeboat shed is to ever be retained as a memorial to those brave Gorlestonians who in many cases gave their lives for others, time is rapidly running out. What a sad eyesore between the RNLI lifeboat houses and the recently restored quayside walk (the revetment not the wall). Please, is there no one other than myself who feels this building has value as a memorial of respect for those beachmen who sailed in the “Elizabeth Simpson” and her predecessors including the ill fated “Refuge”?

In fact “Elizabeth Simpson” is in safe hands at the moment with the intention of restoring her. What a wonderful homecoming it would be for her to return to her old home as a museum to complement the RNLI display next door and as part of a riverside walk leading to the High Street to join resort and shops.

DENNIS DURRANT

www.gorleston-heritage.co.uk

Brett Avenue, Gorleston

THESE days Yarmouth seems to be a sea of overflowing wheelie bins. Now, whilst I appreciate the council's policy is not to empty bins that are so full they cannot be shut, or recycle bins that have non-recyclable rubbish in them, surely it is not acceptable to just leave them overflowing? They are an absolute eyesore, especially as a large number of the wheelie bins are, through necessity, left out on the street. This is hardly the image the town should be projecting. Would it not be possible for the council to have an amnesty and empty these bins? I realise the council claims it is trying to educate people on the correct use of their bins, but it is clearly not working.

SHAUN LAYTON

Trafalgar Court

Great Yarmouth

WE are a paranormal investigation team covering the Yarmouth and Lowestoft areas. We are looking for members of the public who think they have any strange happenings in their homes, so we can go and investigate for them and find the cause. Also we will be writing a book covering our investigations, which we hope to have published in due course. Anyone wishing to contact us can do so by contacting me on 01502 588699 and www.pastandpresent.fastnet.com.

YVONNE GREGORY

I READ with interest about the sea cadets in the Mercury and that they were formed in 1938. I was a member of the British Sailors Society Sea Cadets (BSSSC) in the 1920s and we were part of a nationwide organisation of the British Sailors Society. We used to train in a hall in a row opposite St Peter's Pave Row where we were taught seamanship eg semaphore, splicing knots, boxing the compass. We also had a whaler rowing boat on the River Yare which, if I remember right, had six oars and I soon learned not to crab.

One of our instructors was a Mr Fuller who was an ex-seaman. We also had a band and the person in charge was the port chaplain for the BSS, a Mr (Buck) Jones who was also in charge of the Seaman's Mission on South Quay between Mariners Road and Queens Road. We used to take part in all ceremonial parades, Mayor's Day, Remembrance Day etc.

Later on, when you had left school, you were eligible to go to a training establishment on the Thames. I believe it was at Greenwich and after six months were found berths in the Merchant Navy mostly on liners and the parents had to pay a weekly fee, which I think was a half-a-crown per week. However, my parents said they could not afford the fee.

C R STANNARD

Audley Street

Great Yarmouth

WHAT on earth are they doing replacing that most popular seat on Gorleston seafront with a row of rubbish bins? Now instead of looking at the best sea view in Gorleston, we have to go and sit on the other side of the promenade and look at a miserable sight of a line of bins and a row of bicycle racks with our backs to the sea. The so-called authorities have dropped a right clanger here.

ERIC WORLIDGE

Middlestone Close

Gorleston

A DOG warden will be visiting the cemeteries off North Denes Road after a large number of complaints of owners allowing their dogs to use the cemeteries as an exercise yard and a toilet.

There are plenty of places to walk dogs on a lead of course. It is an offence to walk your dog in a public place without one. Dogs are not allowed in the cemeteries; there is a notice at every entrance stating this.

A dog warden has the power to issue irresponsible owners with on-the-spot fines for all of their dogs' offences. I'm sure this money is better spent on enjoying the animal. Most dog owners do care about the behaviour of their animals and are annoyed by people who don't respect their's.

However, there may be a reason the dog warden won't be able to issue fines: he might be knocked down by a speeding cyclist rising through the cemetery! Respect is caring about other people and their property. If in any doubt, it's in any dictionary.

D CLARK

North Denes Road

Great Yarmouth

SO Great Yarmouth has been treated with apathy again by the Highways Agency over the Gapton Hall roundabout. Something needs to be done urgently as this is putting people off using the town centre. Last Saturday it took me so long to get into Great Yarmouth from Bradwell that by the time I got there the trousers I was taking back to Marks and Spencers had gone out of fashion!

PAULINE LYNCH

Mill Lane

Bradwell

A FEW weeks ago, my dear husband died and his last request was to be buried in his old village of Caister-on-Sea cemetery. He was born in Caister, his parents are also buried there, but his request was turned down, by the Caister burial committee.

Their excuse was he had lived outside the village for the last five years and their rules were rules. They would not move on this. He was therefore buried in the Cais-ter borough cemetery, as I had no alternative.

This made me very angry because during the war, my father-in-law worked very hard to save Caister. He did a full-time job and then in the evening and during the night, he was in the AFS. If only he knew his son had been surplus to requirements and would not be buried there. He just would not believe it.

I'm asking for the burial committee to look at my case on its merits; rules can sometimes be adjusted. It would be very expensive for me to have him re-interned, but he worked hard for me and I will fight for him.

Mrs Y Utting

Highfield Close

Thorpe St Andrew

I WAS pleased that E Barkhuizem (Letters, February 29) agreed with some of my earlier letter - but saddened he took the opportunity to write a tirade of criticism against most of the churches in the borough. For the record, can I state clearly:

1 That Park Baptist Church, its leaders and members are not perfect.

2 That we do however seek to follow God's ways, albeit that we fail at times.

3 That we welcome other imperfect people who are genuinely seeking God's ways.

4 That God's blessing is promised to those who earnestly seek (Matthew 5.6 and 6.33 for example).

5 That God's blessing is about far more than simply a church's numerical growth. It includes most importantly the inner peace which its members find through their right relationships with God and with one another.

DERRICK HILL

Pastor, Park Baptist Church

Great Yarmouth

I AM sorry that the Garibaldi Place development displeases Mr Layton (Letters, February 29). It may not possess great sweeping lawns, or three car garages, but the 14 properties on offer this week, with a total of 31 bedrooms will offer hope and security to over 60 people, currently homeless or needing to relocate.

None of the future tenants will be forced to live in this “modern row,” as allocations are via the Choice based letting system, Homeselect. With many properties in the Gold or Silver band, and two in the Bronze band, the opportunity exists for those on the Homeselect list to bid for the property they want to. I hope they enjoy their new properties and wish them well.

Many choose to live in towns and cities, and lack of gardens, or living close to their neighbours is not to be criticised, but is positively desired. Town and beach access would rate highly, if in an estate agent's window.

Slums are made, not built. This development is to be encouraged, not derided. Hats off to Suffolk Housing Association. We need more social housing in Great Yar-mouth, don't knock it, you might need it one day.

PETER KIRKPATRICK

Chairman,

Rural North Tenants and Residents Association

READERS may have noticed over the last couple of weeks that around the Market Place there has been a programme of work replacing bike racks. To my layman's eye, the racks being replaced seem perfectly serviceable, and yet, no doubt at considerable cost to the council taxpayer, they are being replaced on a almost like-for-like item, albeit slightly smaller than the originals.

This appears to be an absolute waste of money. I challenge the decision maker on the local authority, through this newspaper, to explain why they are being re-placed, and at what cost, particularly in the current fiscal climate, and yet another greater than inflation rise in our council tax.

CHARLES BIRCH

Yarmouth Road

Ormesby

REFERENCE Mark Sanderson's letter (February 29); how regular this type of letter appears in newspapers because authority seems not to exist for the innocent public.

I have a friend in Great Yarmouth aged 73, who was badly beaten up in his own home and had his left arm broken. He was robbed of his bill money by three teenag-ers.

What I perceive from Mr Sanderson's letter is a no-go area is being created. I have spoken to many pensioners and they tell me they go out during the day for a drink and a spot of lunch, get home abut 3pm, lock themselves in and do not go out again until the next day. They do say that even during the daytime they do not feel at ease.

Yes Mr Sanderson, you are right, it does start at the top. It does go right down to the police, but in my opinion it is not the fault of the police as they are controlled by a corrupt government who even stops their freedom of speech, so they have no freedom of choice.

D S HENNEM

Marlborough Green Crescent

Martham

AFTER hearing on the local news about the casino coming one step nearer to Great Yarmouth, I was delighted. I believe this is an excellent opportunity for the town. The proposed site on South Denes made by Mr Jones (Pleasure Beach) is the most logical as this area is in desperate need of a major revamp. I can't imagine the look on peoples faces when they arrive in Great Yarmouth (from the outer harbour) and see the eyesore that the area is now.

H STEVENSON

Bewick Close

Bradwell

WITH all the new development in St George's Park, it is the next obvious task for making St George's Theatre into the jewel at the hub of central Great Yarmouth. It is nearly 10 years since the original board of trustees had a vision of providing an up to date, small theatre with new stage, café restaurant, changing/dressing rooms, storage, first floor offices etc.

English Heritage and Arts Lottery Group were contacted, who gave us their blessing and viewed the building with their engineers and suggested expenditure on a much higher level than we had ever hoped on a very ambitious scheme and suggested we put a bid together. We had a very tailored and commercially experienced board of trustees and quite a few more who would come and help us with our bid. Also, the council was enthusiastic in support.

A well known London property adviser suggested a figure of £1.25m which did not faze the funding agencies, who continued to encourage us. We were putting together our bid with a local quantity surveyor doing many hours of work. Part of submission was the purchase of St George's Rooms for £8,500 so the theatre pro-gramme could continue during restoration and the trustees in a management reshuffle were stood down.

Now there is hope our vision will be realised. The council's heritage team with Stephen Earle leading, will be viewing the restoration of this finest freestanding Georgian building in the borough. Let us all wish them every success.

PETER HAWKINS

Back Lane

Upton

I TRULY cannot understand that the village of Acle can have hanging baskets from lamp-posts when the village of Filby has been told they are either a hazard or could cause accidents. To me the lamp-posts are similar, so what's going on?

Surely the spoilsports and jobsworths are over reacting. Give Filby the right to possibly win again in the Anglia in Bloom contest.

Acle will, I'm sure, find some kind person to do the watering of the good displays. Has anyone considered making it a school project for older boys or girls, with pocket money to be earned - and pride in their village established too?

ALAN EDWARD RAE,

Midland Close,

Great Yarmouth

I WAS delighted to see in last week's Mercury that councillor Gerry Cook has managed to obtain funding from the council to demolish the run down semi derelict beach huts on Gorleston's promenade. This is positive action from someone that cares about the people of Gorleston and their surroundings and is to be commended.

The lady who suggested spending money on them to bring them up to an appropriate standard was somewhat misguided. Spending good money after bad on a facility that is not utilised, is poorly designed and is located in the wrong place is not the answer.

Clearing the beach hut space and making it neat and tidy is, enhancing the surroundings in which we live, is what is currently required.

This does not of course mean that beach huts of a different design in a different location would not be more appropriate in due course. Gorleston's beach is a true gem and its promenade and facilities should be supported and improved. After all not all holidaymakers want amusement arcades and the hustle and bustle of Yarmouth, some people prefer the more traditional promenade and beach which is what Gorleston has to offer.

Let's hope more councillors like Mr Cook begin to realise that Gorleston should not be treated as a poor relation to Yarmouth and that it has its own unique history and character and far from turning it into a small replica of Yarmouth, local people want its character preserved and enhanced. Sometimes looking to the best from the past is what is required, you only have to look at Southwold or Cromer's promenades to see what can be done with appropriate designed beach huts.

PHILIP STONE

Roslyn Road,

Gorleston

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