(Image: NQ)
Tracy’s sterling work - but why not make NEETs clean the streets?
Tracy Ostle should be commended twofold. Not only for her sterling work in the Groves but also for her ability to inspire others to join in and help her.
Streets and spaces in The Groves used to be cleaned by Council workers but cutbacks left the place seriously dilapidated until Tracy did something about it.
This begs the question - why can’t it be done elsewhere? In particular, couldn’t the NEETS (not in employment or in further education) be organised to carry out street cleaning as a condition of receiving welfare payments?
It is not an unreasonable request and getting up on a morning to do something useful and productive is always good for self-esteem.
Matthew Laverack
Lord Mayors Walk
York
Recommended reading:
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Two young to die
It is a sobering fact that in the late 1800s, almost half of all children died before their tenth birthday. These figures were mainly driven by disease, poverty, poor sanitation and contaminated food and water, but there were many other reasons why children died so young.
On Friday 14 August, York Cemetery is holding a guided walk, ‘We Were Too Young to Die’, led by local historian Dennis Shaw.
The walk will take visitors around the Victorian part of the Cemetery, visiting the graves of twelve children who died before their eleventh birthday. Some of the children were killed by fire, others by water. Some died in accidents or due to neglect. Others were murdered.
Although the subject is poignant, the walk offers a fascinating insight into Victorian life and the hardships faced by many families.
Please meet at the Harriet Centre by 6.45pm on Friday 14 August to be fitted with the audio equipment before hearing the sad stories of twelve children who were too young to die.
The walk costs £5 per person, children free, and refreshments afterwards. Advance booking is recommended through the Cemetery Office on 01904 610578 or by email at admin@yorkcemetery.org.uk.
We hope many of your readers will join us for this thought-provoking evening.
Friends of York Cemetery
The Gatehouse, 49 Cemetery Road, York
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Too successful!
Now that the Knights have beaten Hull KR, and now St Helens (who would have thought it), time to sack Mark Applegarth. He has done a great job, just like Stuart Maynard. Well done the two of you.
I thought the sacking was unjust and expected an experienced replacement. We shall see if it was a good move or not.
John Zimnoch
Osbaldwick
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Derek’s on the ball
I CONCUR with Derek Reed’s letter, ‘Why be a manager' in Friday’s Press. Derek’s really on the ball and like Derek live in a sports-free home, although the wife does like horse racing. Being a true Yorkshire man I like to hear of local teams doing well, but I wouldn’t go to the bottom of our street to see them.
Derek’s comments were aimed at the York City manager Stuart Maynard, but the demise of the Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe saddens me. He always came over as a genuine bloke with the interest of his club and players at heart. With the club selling his best players from under him how could he possibly field a successful team. It appears all sporting events have been run as financial endeavours, and in Newcastle’s case it’s looking like asset stripping.
...How can a pub game Darts possibly be classed as a sporting event, what next... Tiddlywinks or perhaps Sudoku. Sport by name is just getting ridiculous and a money spinner.
D M Deamer,
Penleys Grove Street,
Monkgate, York
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