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NEWBURYNEWS LETTERS

Thursday, October 29, 2020 17

Newbury Weekly News

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Pet of the Week POST : Newspaper House, Faraday Road, Newbury, RG14 2AD EMAIL editor@newburynews.co.uk for them, rather than the victims of war, bombed out of their homes.

Bewarebellbrigade alongthecanapl ath

MARY Baylis seems to have found the answer to the old question ‘Isabel on a bike really necessary?’ ( Newbury Weekly News , October 22). A JOHN CORBETT Beedon Hill Mary issoundasa bellregardincgyclists Souncarintgosteal mum’swalkingstick I HOPE the person who took my mum’s walking stick while she was shopping in Newbury last Friday is proud of themselves and is reading this. Maybe one day you will reach 83 and will require a walking aid. Perhaps you are but don’t have a conscience. But, thanks to you mum is without the stick dad bought for her and he died last year so it’s irreplaceable. She doesn’t come into Newbury much now because of Covid-19 and with all of the regulations of wearing masks and stopping to sanitise your hands on entering the shops that’s when it was taken. When she realised it was missing mum retraced her steps back to the shops she had visited but could not find it and nobody had handed it in. I thought Newbury was a better, caring community than this, but obviously not. MRS LESLEY CAVE Lambourn Place Lambourn

I opposeUK’songoing warsaroundtheworld ONCE again, I feel obliged to respond to Peter Starr’s letter (Newbury Weekly News, October 15). Of course my opinions, about the futility of war, are ‘prejudiced’, that’s how most people’s opinions are formulated. However, my ‘rationale’ is not a construct of ‘someone who has blindly made real critical personal sacrifices for the good of other people’, like his. My summation is actually based upon an understanding of the issues. Since the end of the Second World War, the UK has been engaged (some on going) in 36 different wars throughout the world, proving war to be a very sustainable occupation/ business and designed to line pockets (weapons manufacture) indefinitely. Sadly, all this aggression will be at the expense of innocent women and children, destined to perish. I think the prejudices of Mr Starr and his ilk languish in their refusal to learn lessons from the past, fuelled by warmonger complacency. Meanwhile, Remembrance Sunday Commemorations will perpetuate for centuries, with new combatants names subscribed to the list of fallen every year. So, if you want to support the forgotten hero soldiers saddled with PTSD, who condoned wars, now dumped on the streets, spare a penny

Meanwhile, Mr Starr, I will continue to pursue my pacifist, common-sense agenda. I also note Thatcham Town Council is adding the name of a civilian (albeit military personnel), killed by a bomb in Thatcham, on August 16, 1940, to its war memorial. I wonder if Newbury Town Council will now add the names of all the civilians (including three children) killed by bombs in Newbury, on February 10, 1942, to Newbury’s war memorial.

I REALLY did not know whether to laugh or cry when I read the letter from Mary Baylis of Winterbourne regarding cyclists and their bells ( Newbury Weekly News , October 22). Obviously there is a better class of cyclist in Winterbourne than in other parts of Newbury. The ones I encounter riding along pavements towards you, or behind, at break neck speed do not have a bell and would not ring it if they did. I walk my dog every morning, when it’s still dark, and I must see about a dozen cyclists without any lights on, so I’m sure bells are the last thing they worry about. If bells are your thing though, try walking along the canal path from St Nicolas’ Church westwards. Weekends are best. See how far you can get before the ‘bell brigade’ come up behind you dinging away like no tomorrow, hoards of them, and if you do not give way do not expect a friendly ‘thank you’... especially if they are wearing lycra. Still, there is always the electric scooter brigade to look forward to. I have not seen a lycra-clad one yet, but give it time – and give them bells too. The mind boggles. Still, I must visit Winterbourne some time. It sounds very civilised. TREVOR JONES Paddock Road Newbury

STAN GREEN Newtown Road Newbury Whofliesthelight aircraftoverNewbuyr?

Names: Ella and Lilly Breed: Springer Spaniel Owners: Warren and Keeley From: Newbury

I WONDER if anybody can identify the light aircraft that flies during daylight hours over the centre of Newbury, crossing my garden in a wide arc so that I am aware of it sometimes six times in an hour. I am attempting to trace the aircraft and the pilot. It seems unlikely there is just one, although I have never seen more than one plane at a time. Your help would be so appreciated. LYNETTE EDWELL Priory Road Newbury Tel: (01635) 820445 Email: lynette.edwell@gmail.com

Please turn to page 26 for more pictures of pets dressed in Hallowe’en costumes. We have included as many pictures as we could over the past two weeks and apologies for any that we have not published. Would you like to nominate your pet as our Pet of the Week? Just send a nice picture with your pet’s name, breed, your name, where you’re from and your pet’s likes and dislikes to: editor@newburynews.co.uk

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