Be direct

Sir, - Hambleton District Council wants to support rural post offices by asking the government to maintain the subsidy ("Plea for rural post offices, D&S Oct 6).

Would it not be more practical if the council supported the post offices direct as other councils do?

As a small village shop on the edge of the North York Moors, which is also a sub office of which I am the sub post mistress, we do receive a rate reduction for which we are grateful. The business would not be here without it.

But what about putting business the way of post offices? Other councils in the area, for example Stockton, allow residents to pay their council tax at my post office where my locals can't. The only way you can pay your Hambleton council bill at the present is by direct debit, cheque in the post or by going into the council offices and paying cash - a 20-mile round trip.

We have been told that it would be to expensive to set up such a system, but Broardacres housing rent payers can pay at post offices so why can't it be set up on a similar basis for Hambleton.

MAXINE JOHNSON

Swainby village store,

Swainby.

Behind the spin

Sir, - I was interested to see David Cameron, in his first full conference address, discussing his pride in new legislation giving equal rights for gay and lesbian people - despite the fact that he, and his Conservative colleagues, have voted against nearly every measure introduced for that purpose.

It is equally disturbing that Cameron's MEPs recently failed to vote in favour of condemning racist violence, having already refused to support a programme designed to help victims of domestic violence and rape.

If Mr Cameron wants to rid his party of its nasty image, then he can start by asking his colleagues to stop voting in such a nasty way.

JONATHAN ROBERTS

Saxty Way,

Thirsk.

Military hospitals

Sir, - Anyone anxious about the care of our servicemen and women who are wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan and the closure of all service hospitals in the UK should read the piece in The Daily Telegraph of October 5 by Field Marshall Lord Bramall who was wounded twice during World War II.

I have known Lord Bramall for nearly 50 years and know him to be a soldier of the widest experience, including that as Chief of the Defence Staff, one of whose many functions is to advise the government on service and defence matters. He would not "fizz with anger" (his words) without good cause.

I believe that everybody, including politicians and servicemen, agree that war is terrible but, when it happens, it requires specialised resources, both human and in weaponry, to fight it.

Why, therefore, do our politicians not accept, whatever the cost, that specialised hospitals are as vital as specialised ships, guns and aircraft?

The present Defence Secretary's letter (also of October 5 in The Telegraph) shamefully uses the last Conservative Government's stupidity in this matter to justify his Government's further stupidity now.

Brig A MILLEN (Rtd)

East End,

Ampleforth.

Not needed

Sir, - I write to express my concern regarding the probable replacement of the Trident weapons system. Despite Mr Blair's promise, discussions on the pros and cons of replacement have not taken place; despite huge support for an Early Day Motion requesting a debate in Parliament, none is scheduled. Gordon Brown, however, has expressed his support for spending £25bn in new systems and Blair is thought to favour this.

Nuclear weapons have never been of value. During the Cold War, they invited widespread destruction through attack. They were in fact forward outposts for the organ grinder, the USA. I defy anyone to show that those without them slept any less easily in their beds (e.g. Spaniards, Germans, Scandinavians). What use could they be in future? Repelling terrorists? At a time when Western leaders, in possession of nuclear warheads, are hypocritically condemning others for acquiring them, we should be taking positive steps to disarm.

The reason we have them and would retain them is not protection but to buy a very expensive seat at the international top table.

Why waste £25bn when it could be used in so many useful and needed ways?

JACK STEVENS

Hastings Avenue,

Durham City.

That Lass, that Hill

Sir, - Every time an article appears about the Lass of Richmond Hill (Countryman's Diary, D&S Sept 22) it inevitably generates correspondence (D&S letters, Sept 29).

In attributing the identity of the Lass it is never sensible to disregard contemporary evidence.

Judge Jonah Barrington knew both Leonard McNally, a fellow barrister and his wife Frances. He wrote about them in his memoirs and, though there is a deal of blarney involved he is quite clear about the matter.

He had fought a duel with McNally so he has no reason to flatter him and when he writes that McNally wrote the famous song about his wife Frances, I, for one, am content to believe him.

Frances I'anson had no connection with Richmond, Surrey.

RALPH WAGGETT

Frenchgate,

Richmond.

Concert thanks

Sir, - Guisborough Save the Children group raised the sum of £500 at the evening of comic song on Saturday, September 23, in St Nicholas' Parish Church, Guisborough, and would like to thank all those who came to the concert and contributed so generously.

Our next event is a coffee morning at Sunnyfield House, on Thursday, October 19.

N M WEBB

Secretary, Guisborough Save the Children Group,

Farndale Drive,

Guisborough.

Overthe op

Sir, - Last Saturday, I attended a protest meeting outside the RAF base at Menwith Hill, near Harrogate. The purpose was to make our objections known to the licensing of a major part of this base to the US military and secret services as part of the outer fringe of their defence network.

The base is used to pick up data from electronic messaging and is now capable of identifying and recording any such communication (eg e-mails, telephones) made by any organisation or individual worldwide. The information is used to support illegal attacks made on countries such as Iraq and covert operations against freely-elected governments such as was the case in Nicaragua.

There were around 60 people there and the demonstration was, as planned, entirely peaceful.

There were also, however, what seemed like 600 police. I saw them parked at junctions, roundabouts or laybys within three miles of the approach (and presumably this was the case in all directions). There was a disproportionately large number inside the base and standing, with nothing to do, outside the gates. Vehicles drove past at regular intervals.

There were police on horses, specialist vehicles adapted for video etc and two equipped with different types of camera who kept snapping away as if at a pop star's wedding. Local officers were augmented by specialists from the Ministry of Defence. What a total waste of police time and public money.

I would like to ask the chief constable of the North Yorkshire Police how this over-the-top response and huge expenditure could possibly be justified.

P R BONPULO

Cabwith Street,

Durham City.

Wartime memories

Sir, - With the completion of the final phase of the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton there are plans to create a Healing Arts mural along both walls of the main street within the new complex. The mural will depict the Friarage from its medieval origins, through its wartime roles as an emergency and RAF hospital concluding with the new millennium.

The creators of the mural are urgently seeking any photographs and documents relating to its role from 1940 to 1947, the period when it functioned as a hospital for the local RAF stations.

May I further ask for information about a Nancy Williams who served with the WAAF at the hospital in 1943 and some years ago kindly loaned photographs of that period for the hospital's magazine and also information about the family of the late Grp Capt Duck OBE, the last commandant of the hospital.

All photographs and documents loaned will be treated with the utmost care and returned promptly. I can be contacted in the first instance at the address and telephone number shown below.

TONY EATON

50 Turker Lane,

Northallerton.

01609-774439.

Great nights

Sir, - 2006 is the 20th birthday of the CornShed concert held at Sexhow Park Farm, Hutton Rudby, the home of Judy, Martha and Annie Kitching. The annual concerts are held in memory of Jim Kitching who was my husband and Martha and Annie's dad.

The first one was held in 1986 and raised money for the ITU at Middlesbrough General Hospital which tried to save Jim's life after an accident on the farm. The concerts have been a popular event drawing people from all over the country and raising thousands of pounds for different charities.

This year saw a 20th celebration of two nights and two stages. On Friday, June 30, Thirsk School Concert Band, David Lunt, The JD Dancers, YMCA, The Pip Garbutt Band and Atomic Blonde entertained an audience in the CornShed with Abby West and BSE and the Buttercups on the second stage. Ian Macey was the DJ.

On Saturday, July 1, Based on Fiction, Next Door's Dog, The JD Dancers, The Last Stand, TT Blue, The Flying Oysters and The Fallen were on the main stage with The Black Sheep Band, Tragic Roundabout and Dali on the second stage. Chris Wastell was the DJ.

Wayne Stevenson was the compere for both nights with Philip Walker from Lithgows very kindly auctioneering for the Saturday night.

An amazing amount of £8,000 was raised for the Great North Air Ambulance bringing the total the CornShed concerts have raised for the GNAAS in recent years to £19,000.

I would like to thank: the committee, crew, bar staff, tombola helpers, gate people and shed decorators, those who gave their services willingly and free of charge, those who gave money and prizes, those who couldn't come but sent donations - and all those who did come. We had two really good evenings.

JUDY KITCHING

Sexhow Park Farm,

Hutton Rudby.

Lovely grub

Sir, - With reference to "Concern about fast food vans" (D&S, Sept 29),which featured the comments of Anne Frizell, ex-mayor of Richmond, I cannot believe she is going to waste time in having a council meeting to discuss a healthy eating policy (a waste of taxpayers' money).

Is she going to get rid of fast food vans, fish and chips and pizza shops that all exist in Richmond? I don't think so.

I and many more people when they visit Richmond love our fish and chips and hot pork rolls followed by a delicious ice-cream. I think Ms Frizell is talking out of the top of her head.

Ms Frizell should leave the question about healthy eating to the expert, Jamie Oliver, and let's do something that would benefit the people of Richmond.

There are more pressing issues to discuss i.e. lack of parking and toilet facilities.

Ms R McALLISTER

Colburn Lane,

Colburn.

Bring back PC49