Unfair criticism

REX Hykes’s letter (September 17) criticising Clare Lording, priest in charge of Pershore Abbey, was a little unfair.

I heard Clare preaching two sermons last Sunday.  In the morning with reference to the euthanasia debate (on the day of the Festival of the Holy Cross) and at the British Legion Service, with reference to a nuclear debate that will be taking place.

On each occasion, Clare was encouraging us to think for ourselves and pray, showing us the relevance of Christ’s teaching, and the Bible’s message still relevant for today’s problems.

I was not aware of an expression of personal opinion or condemnation of decisions taken nearly 70 years ago to end a cruel war.

Life is full of decisions, and remits are always changing. All is not possible.

We see no national boundary is secure to the peaceful mass migration of people.

Putting up a barbed-wire fence is considered cruel. The use of arms is an outrage. Terrible dilemmas and generosity of spirit does not always provide the solution.  Finances are finite and to fund an army, navy and airforce of men and women disciplined and compassionate on the ground may be best value.

Clare Lording’s arrival at Pershore Abbey has been hugely welcomed and a warm, vibrant fellowship is being extended.  She has a great empathy for people and a wide understanding of the world’s problems.

I hope we can welcome Rex Hyke at another visit to the abbey.

Malcom Meikle Pershore  

Kind shoppers

OUR grateful thanks go to all the generous shoppers at Tesco Stow-on-the-Wold on Tuesday, September 16, who donated an amazing £310 to the Dogs for the Disabled collection there.

Thanks also to Tesco and the store staff for allowing us to clog the foyer with our dogs – it really is appreciated.

Dogs for the Disabled creates exceptional partnerships between people and dogs, from assistance dogs helping children and adults with physical disabilities and families affected by autism, to pet dog autism workshops and innovative new projects working in schools and residential care settings.

The charity receives no government funding and relies entirely on donations, fundraising and volunteers to continue its pioneering work.

Yvonne Hallows Banbury and District Supporters Group Dogs for the Disabled Thanks for help I WOULD like to thank the kind passers-by who helped me when I became ill in Greenhill on Saturday, September 12. I am most grateful to them.

I would also like to return the car blanket that the gentleman gave me.

If he would like to contact me on 07907 623379 I will arrange to return it to him.

Clare Bostle Evesham  

Fabulous show

I HAVE just been to see Oliver! by Evesham Operatic and Dramatic Society.

Bravo to everybody concerned.

It was a very professional performance from an amateur company.

They never let their audiences down.

Peter Green Evesham

Benefits town

I WATCHED Channel 5’s Benefits: Too Sick and was upset that again Evesham was featured one of their shows after previously showing an Evesham woman whom had moved to “the Great British Benefits Hotel” in another of their benefits-related programmes a few weeks before.

 It is good that that they are highlighting that it is not just the inner cities that are struggling with employment, health and poverty issues, but surely there are other small towns that they could also feature.

In this episode, they showed a young Evesham couple who had not received their benefit payment and had to resort to using the food bank at the Vale Of Evesham Christian Centre in order to eat.

I, for one, did not know that there was a food bank there (maybe no one else did either because they were were given a considerable amount of food; perhaps this was for the the benefit of TV or maybe they had been inundated with generosity and few takers).

It made me think that perhaps we, as a relatively small community (Christian or not) should rally around and help those less fortunate in our area.

Perhaps those who use the car park as a short cut to save time and petrol to avoid the town’s traffic could give a little in return by donating  a tin of food for each occasion they pass through the car park.

Becky, the young woman featured, said that she would like to be a crime scene investigator (she had ambition if nothing else).

It would be a crime for us to turn a blind eye to those less fortunate in our district.

Liz Dacbugamiie Evesham  

Amazing lady

BARBARA Pearson is an amazing lady (Journal, September 17).

Some of her fantastic shoeboxes are used by the Christian charity Operation Christmas Child, which delivers boxes filled with toys and so forth to children who have probably never received a birthday or Christmas present.

If you have links to children I’d ask you to consider decorating and filling a box or two, or help to check and pack in Evesham warehouse.

See samaritanspurse.org for details. 

Ken Spensley Willersey

Bus changes

A NUMBER of significant changes have been made to the bus services between Evesham, Pershore and Worcester.

Was there any prior consultation about them, and were they publicised? Why were they necessary?

Roger Batty Pershore

Happy memories

I HAVE a particular interest in Evesham.

It was way back in the 1950s and 1960s that I used to spend time in the summer staying with my grandparents who lived in a cottage called Wren’s Nest, which is situated in the village of Norton just a couple of miles North of Evesham.

A trip to Evesham was always special – a trip to the big town. I had a particular fondness for the local buses, Stratford-upon-Avon Blue Motors which provided a service from Stratford to Evesham.

By coincidence, I was looking through some old family photographs the other day when I discovered, by chance, a newspaper cutting from the Evesham Journal and Four Shires Advertiser dated October 15, 1965.

There is a photograph of my maternal grandparents, Alexander and Lavinia Clarke, who celebrated their golden wedding that year.

It is hard to believe that photo appeared in your paper almost 50 years ago.

Philip Carter Preston

I’m no speeder

AFTER reading Peter Green’s verbal attack on me (Letters, September 10) I would like to put the record straight.

I do not advocate breaking the law, or the speed limit.

It is much safer to prevent drivers from speeding than catching them committing the offence.

Well positioned speed cameras, solar powered signs and graduated road markings warning of a sudden decrease of the limit can all contribute to reduced levels of speeding.

I do not “feel the urge to drive my vehicle fast” and I am not an habitual speeder. I drive a heavy diesel estate car and I’m 64 years of age – hardly a boy racer.  I also have a clean driving licence. Do you?

Peter Brotheridge Norton