Your letters - August 6

Mourning loss of Ken

I MOURN the loss of one of our local heroes, Ken Igglesden MBE. Not only was he a fine brave man in wartime but a wonderful hard worker for the local RAFA for so many years.

We all have cause to be proud of him.

Best wishes to his family.

JOYCE HUMPHREY

Reginald Road

Bexhill

Not angling club view

In response to your front page article Fishing Row as Bexhill Anglers Cry Foul Play:

The Bexhill Sea Angling Club wish to make very clear that the article does not represent the views of the angling club and its members, although Steve Hanks is a valued committee member of the club he was not in anyway a spokesman for the Bexhill Sea Angling Club and did not seek the club's opinion before speaking to the press.

There has been no objection from the angling club to Hastings fishermen fishing the seas off Bexhill.

The front page headline has not only angered Bexhill Sea Angling Club Members but has also put a strain on relationships built up with commercial fishermen in neighbouring Hastings.

Arthur Freeman

Chairman

Bexhill Sea Angling Club

Security for churches

ON reading the Observer front page on July 23 about repeated lead removal from local churches:

This seems to be occurring in many parts of the country and I am surprised that the mentioned ecclesiastic insurers don't work on a scheme of security for churches in each area.

A security company could cover all the churches in an allotted area and overall the cost to each area could be less than the cost of repeated replacement of any stolen lead, plus the churchyard itself could be covered by the presence of added security.

We hear of broken and damaged headstones and general nuisance on church property that security personnel working closely with local police could well deter.

Perhaps St Michael's in Glassenbury Drive and other local churches may like to weigh up the situation and see if something can be done to protect the local places of worship.

DEREK STOCKER

Duke Street

Bexhill-on-Sea

Future of carnival?

Well done to the carnival committee for all their hard work.

However, despite perfect weather conditions there were far fewer spectators along the route this year. Unless more local pubs, businesses and individuals are willing to make an effort to participate in the carnival then it really does not have a future.

Much comment was made in your newspaper report about Shaw's fun fair being a great supporter of the carnival. What a pity therefore that the inflated prices being charged by many rides, amusements and sideshows on carnival day itself, put them beyond the reach of most families with children.

PJ Watson

Cooden Sea Road

Bexhill

...party too expensive

I AM writing in response to a quote from Nim Whitmarsh, who organised the Bexhill Carnival.

Mr Whitmarsh implied that the Party in the Polegrove was poorly attended for lack of local support. This is completely untrue.

The reason for which many people didn't attend was because of the over-priced entry fee.

Being in a group of five friends this particular evening it would have cost 25 overall to get in, and that's without buying food and drink.

In the end we decided to play tennis, listen to the music and watch the fireworks in Egerton Park, all for free.

It turned out to be just as much fun. We spoke to several families on the night who felt the same way and described the fees as a rip-off.

I am personally offended that I have been accused of not supporting local events, seeing as every year the entry fee to events in the Polegrove is too much for younger people in full-time education to be expected to pay.

I know for a fact that my views are shared by many Bexhillians of all ages.

And although we are grateful that time has been taken to organise such events, I think that these views should be taken into consideration.

CLARISSA DAVIS

Age 16

Eastwood Road

Bexhill-on-Sea

Writers' group replies

Susan Lees was correct in stating (letters 30.7.10) that the Senior Citizens Club Writing Circle does not offer critical evaluation or show "the way forward".

This is because it has been deemed unwarranted for this particular creative writing group. However, what is provided is what is needed - in this instance gentle motivation, mental stimulus and encouragement to those club members who enjoy writing as a pastime and wish to continue in a non-competitive environment.

The group, which has been running for 10 years, meets not once, but twice a month and members customarily volunteer two items per session. Inspiration is provided by way of a selection of subjects supplied by the whole group, the results of which are later read aloud to mutual enjoyment.

The aim then is to provide members of the Senior Citizens Club with an opportunity to continue with their writi