SIR– I WANT to congratulate all responsible for the wonderful two days entertainment we were treated to at the Battle of Evesham Festival – and all for free!

It was all so well organised – events were repeated so one had a chance to catch up with something missed, there were free programmes, lots of loos, good food, stalls in keeping with the theme, good sound systems, and re-enactors who carried on steadfastly in sweltering conditions, and were so friendly and knowledgeable.

The whole thing was absolutely brilliant! Thank you, everyone!

And, of course, the venue was wonderful! Flat walking, and plenty of shade under the trees for horses, re-enactors and spectators.

I do hope it all helped to put Evesham on the map, and that visitors to our town will want to come back.

BRENDA MORTON

Evesham

 

Get a grip and start a proper cull of seagulls

SIR– Only 201 nesting seagull couples in the city centre?

Really? Well I know where all the rest have gone....

Warndon, we are inundated with these flying rats, screaming night and day non stop.

Apparently we are going to get more aggressive with the gulls with imaginary flames and stronger black bags. Wow at last, action I don’t think so . For goodness sake someone get a grip of the situation and start a proper cull and stop being so wimpy.

MIKE UPTON

Worcester

Jeremy Corbyn is a true figurehead

SIR – Andrew Brown`s letter in Worcester News captured perfectly the reasons why there is growing support for Jeremy Corbyn to become leader of the Labour Party.

Both major parties are firing arrows in an attempt to keep their positions of authority within our society and their jobs! They`re running scared!

Jeremy Corbyn is a figurehead for all those dissatisfied with the acceptance that austerity is needed and has be implemented rapidly; for the harshness of its measures can be clearly seen to be affecting those who have the least in our society. Within two to three years treasured public services will be unrecognisable having been put out to tender to private companies. These companies do not act altruistically; they exist to make money and often decrease the size of the workforce and alter rates of pay and pensions to the detriment of the workers and for their own greed. The NHS so admired by other countries will also soon be unrecognisable as will the huge changes being imposed on the Police Force, again much admired by other countries!

The swingeing cuts to benefits, coupled with the “bedroom tax” and in particular the proposed cuts to child benefits pose a significant threat to the British sense of justice and also represents social engineering on a grand scale!

The Labour Party should embrace the opportunity that the leadership contest brings to think deeply about its founding principles; re-establishing all those which support ordinary people to bring about a better quality of life and better opportunities to help negate inequalities of birth and background. The Labour Party should not be held in fear of the media, multinational corporations and bankers and take heart from the movement in Scotland which captured the general public`s dissatisfaction.

A prerequisite for a vibrant democratic society is to have a major political party in opposition holding different opinions based on listening and understanding the mood of the country. It needs to have the heart and the will to oppose wherever it sees injustices in new legislation and certainly not to live in fear of upsetting outside powerful influences. This heart and will is sorely lacking at the present moment!

GERALDINE LOWMAN

Worcester

Praise for a helpful train conductor

SIR – I imagine that praise for the services of First Great Western trains is currently in short supply but I feel credit should be given where it is due.

Travelling earlier this week from Oxford to Pershore, I was so impressed by the caring and helpful nature of the conductor, who went out of her way to find me a seat, despite the overcrowded conditions, and ensured my safe exit from the train when I reached my destination.

Such courtesy is much appreciated.

LINDA MATHER

Pershore

Killers, rapists and child abusers

SIR – It must be a cause for concern that 800 foreigners arrested in Britain since 2012 were killers, rapists and child abusers. It surely means that many more have settled here to the rules on free movement in Europe.

Many criminals wanted in their home countries, escape abroad using free movement to settle in different countries, and as we all know Britain appears to be a haven for 99 per cent due to our over generous benefits and bend over backwards attitude to welcome them. It’s barmy that in such an age these people can come in unchecked and settle here.

GB DIPPER

Leominster

Taking centre ground doesn’t win elections

SIR – It is completely false that General Elections are only won by taking the centre ground. When Margaret Thatcher won in 1979, 83 and 87, she led a right wing extremist Conservative Party. She was very hated by the working class, but loved by her own voters/ supporters. Then with John Major in1992 it was finally Black Wednesday that finished Tories off, when even their own supporters turned against them.

Tony Blair was given his 1997 victory on a plate. Even Frankenstein as leader could have won it. The Labour opinion poll vote shortly after stood at 54 per cent. Ten years later Blair when finally forced out took the Labour vote down to a miserable 32 per cent. That’s the proof that Blair and the Blairites, destroyed the Labour party not Brown, Miliband or left wing loonies.

Blair is the most overrated politician in living history, and but for Gordon Brown, Blair would have taken Britain in to the useless Euro currency, the greatest disaster to ever this country.

K HEMMING

Worcester

What are they feeding the ducks on?

SIR – was intrigued looking at the photo of “ Ducks at Whitley Court”.

What DO they feed them on?

And I dread to think how big their swans are!

JUDITH GATH

Pershore