Letters - March 1, 2016

The two men who nearly drowned last Thursday after walking on the sands at 9.30pm in the evening makes us wonder why on earth would anyone choose to stroll on the sands at that time of night, this time of year, in the dark and the tide on its way to the shore!?

Senseless, when they almost drowned. But for their mobile phones and the valuable expertise of the RNLI they wouldn’t have made it, and been yet another sea tragedy on our shores.I recall numerous times being taught by my parents that we should never take liberties with the sea, whichever coast it happens to be, and we weren’t even brought up by the sea.

There doesn’t seem to be a message, warning or procedure to stop people ignoring the strength of the tides other than what our parents taught us (and not every parent does) and common sense. No doubt this coming summer season will see another tragedy happen to a visitor thinking a dash into the sea while the tide is in, looking lake-like and safe, will give it a whirl intoxicated or not and most of us know the consequences.

Let’s hope we have a tragedy free year with the tides coming and going, picking up nothing in its path but sand and sea debris throughout.

Clifford Chambers

Ashton Road

Blackpool

ACCOLADE

Thanks for looking after dogs so well

It is not often I feel compelled to pass comment in public. Actually, only the second time in my life, so I truly hope this letter is published.

So often in life we are quick to condemn bad service and people that don’t seem to care for others. Well, today I have to do just the opposite.

My husband and I live on the south coast, in Gosport, and had travelled to Blackpool for a 50th birthday party celebration. As part of our journey we had decided to bring our two small dogs, a Yorkshire Terrier and a Yorkshire Terrier cross. After an internet search I found Kathy Cox’s Groomers and Boarding site, Rubadub Groomers in Boothley Road.

What can I say? This lady and her husband were amazing with our girls. They reassured me, and also sent me photographs of my girls to allay any fears later that evening.

I wanted to say thank you for an awesome service, well delivered.

Veronica McKie

Gosport

Hampshire

INTERNET

Online comments were upsetting

Recently, The Gazette covered the story of the deaths of the up-and-coming band Viola Beach, who had just played a gig in Sweden.

Unfortunately, a lot of the people who commented on the story made some horrible remarks regarding drink and/or drugs being the cause.

It was also suggested that the record the band had recorded was only being promoted to benefit the record company.

Those same people might be interested to know the Swedish coroner has confirmed that drink and drugs DID NOT play a part in the tragic acciden.

Also, all money raised by the sale of the record is going to the families of the deceased. This might help in paying for the funerals of five young people.

Viola Beach had not been together that long, but in that short time their rise to fame in the Indie world had been meteoric. They were championed by BBC Radio 1 and were fast gaining a name of the festival circuit.

Ill-informed comments from people who don’t know better were not only wide of the mark, they must have been incredibly upsetting for the families and friends of these musicians.

The internet has many positives, but unfortunately it also gives a voice to cowards and troublemakers who keep their identities a secret as they spread their poison.

I hope none of their families ever face a tragedy like the one that befell the families of Viola Beach. But if they do, I hope their nasty words come back to haunt them.

Ali Donald

via email

FLOWERS

Pupils brightened up resort with flowers

Are you in your mid to late 20s? Did you attend a Blackpool school in 1999? If you did, and you took part in the project ‘Plant a Million Bulbs for the Millennium’, when each school planted 1000 bulbs, then I hope you are proud of the results.

Almost everywhere we go in Blackpool there are masses of beautiful colours in the form of crocuses and daffodils.

As you pass by you should remember: “I planted some of those with my classmates”. Sixteen years later and your work is still bringing smiles to thousands of people. Thank you all.

Kathleen Smith

via email

charity

Still work to do in fight against strokes

Some of your readers may have watched the recent ITV documentary ‘Churchill’s Secret’ which aired on Sunday.

During the summer months of 1953, Sir Winston Churchill, who was Prime Minister for the second time and in his late 70s, had a devastating stroke which was kept secret from the world.

Sixty years ago, little was known about stroke and it was viewed by many health professionals as a sad, but untreatable condition, but recent developments in medicine and research have transformed the way stroke patients are treated, and today far more people survive stroke. But there is still much more to do to help the 1.2 million people in the UK affected by the condition.

We want to ensure everyone touched by stroke has the help they need. To find out more about the support we offer, your readers can visit www.stroke.org.uk.

Chris Larkin

Regional Director for the Stroke Association in the North West