ONCE again we hear of the terrible tragedy of an innocent 17-month-old being brutally murdered and yet again the social services which I was always led to believe were there to protect the little ones, are under scrutiny.

When, oh when does this stop? At the very very least the social services should be hauled over the coals and those directly involved should punished. Had this been a one-off it would be sad, but it is nothing short of a travesty.

A scenario: A family owns an animal. Its cries alert someone to call the RSPCA. They in turn prosecute said owners. Direct action. Oh how sad the same does not apply to the social services.

Surely it is time to sort the wheat from the chaff. No amount of degrees, BAs, MAs and the like, can compete with knowledge and the great advantge of experience. What to look for and if you get no response to a knock on the door, involve the law. So what if a few times unnecessarily? Far better that than to have all this hurt and pain for such innocents.

It is happening far too often to go by unquestioned. Questions must be asked and accordingly, satisfactory solutions must be sought and found.
Let us have no more of "we are looking at ways to sort this out".

Enough, we say. Get back to the days when we had experience and a hands-on approach, where one could read the situation and act on it, instead of all these "procedures".

Let us help these poor hurt pained children and not turn a blind eye.
Anne Stamp,
Mother, grandmother and caring and worried human being

LEST WE FORGET
STANDING at the Cenotaph,
Wearing their poppies with pride,
Just a few old servicemen,
Remembering all those who died,
Old they maybe and numbers are few,
But today they remember as they always do,
Braving the cold and winter chill,
"Lest we forget"
They never will.
J Dodds,
Sunderland

Political favours
IT is not correct practice to mock the afflicted but there comes a time when this rule deserves to be broken.
Mr W Quinn's latest outburst "Begging bowl act"goes to prove the inadequacies of his thought process. Why can he not recognise that Russias wealthiest man has been favouring Mandelson of Foy far longer than the Tory G Osbourne.
Whereas Mr Osbourne has itemised his visits, the same can not be said of Mr Mandelson.
He has refuses to expand on why he could not explain knowing the Russian for two years longer than he previously stated. The new time scale of Mandelson and the Russian takes in the period prior to the reduction in Aluminium tarrifs. Can anyone believe that the subject of Aluminium and European tarrifs never arose between the two. From one side it is the basis of all his wealth and the history of the other is to curry favour with the rich and famous.
I direct Mr W Quinn to another of the letters of Wednesday, that from Nick Walker of Tunstall. Whether locally or nationally the North East has been the poorest of regions due to the fact it has been in the hands of the Labour Party for so long.
The arc, One NorthEast, gentoo, the Labour city council are all failures.
When did the arc complete a promised redevelopment?
Why do we still finance the defunct One North East quango? Prescot's idiotic idea was trounced yet we still have its monster.
How many houses at affordable rents for the 20,000 people on the housing list has gentoo built in the last four years?
Just one example of the "transparency" of councillors. Why can we not be informed of the basis of the £6million payoff to the Newcastle Airport senior executive? If transparency exists this would be easy as the present Leader of the council was on the airport board that decided this payout. Or could that be the reason why no information is to be made available?
Leslie Dobson,
Percy Terrace,
Sunderland

WINTER'S VEIL
LEAVES lie beneath our feet, while branches are laid bare,
The coloured splash of autumn past, now gone without a care.
Long shadows cast across the paths we should wish to take,
We see natures patterns unveiled, with new birds on the lake.

Thick warm coats are required to help fight off winter's chill,
See robin redbreast in icy hedgerow, gives a special thrill.
The snow inspires children, on toboggans they swiftly glide
A scene of smiling faces, proclaims that they enjoy the ride.

The short hours of light, creates a swiftly passing day,
Frosty mornings give support, as snow flakes begin to lay.
Long dark evening periods, stretch through winter time,
With icy cutting biting winds, as Jack Frost rules sublime.

Damp, cold and windy days, snow flakes fall from the sky,
Errant motorists hazard, eased as snowplough passes by.
Heating homes is crucial, as ice-glazed windows show,
We tread slush underfoot, with forecast of further snow.

As winter scurrys by, we draw to the end another year,
In pensive mood we can recall the folk who we hold dear.
The dull uninspiring weather, which often make us feel blue,
Is brightened up perpetually, when Christmas time is due.

Households become adorned with splendorous festive decor,
Of traditional holly and mistletoe, with greeting cards galore.
As Christmas Eve approaches, we hearken to carol singing,
And from afar the sound is heard, of old church bells ringing.

New year arrives to greet us with strains of Auld Lang Syne,
Heralding a new venture into the lives of yours and mine.
Hoping we face a happy future, whatever destiny may bring
Patiently waiting for the time when we see the signs of spring.
WA Place

Why no minute's silence at SoL?
COULD someone please explain to me why our great football club decided not to commemorate Remembrance Day with a minute's silence before the match against Portsmouth?
Both cities have a long and proud tradition of service and sacrifice to our country with many families having experienced the loss of loved ones down the years during both world wars and more recent conflicts, including the present campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I feel that it was a lamentable decision by the club not to at least acknowledge their sacrifice. This decision can only reflect badly on our football club and our city. Quite what the travelling Portsmouth supporters made of this can only be guessed at .
Dom Evans,
Ex-serviceman and season ticket holder
l Editors' note: SAFC players were wearing specially designed shirts that Saturday which incorporated a poppy and a tribute to the fallen.
Good things in life
THERE are many bad things happening in the world today, but lots of good things too.
I have written to you before about the wonderful shopper bus service for pensioners, run by Age Concern and Nexus, which continues to delight. The number to ring for further information is 0191 261 4908.
I now must write about another boon that has come my way, namely the Taxicard service, which is also run by Nexus.
Having had to give up driving – most recently! – I'm now very dependent on taxis, the cost of which has been halved by my Taxicard membership. Needless to say I have told many people about this and now hope that a letter to The Echo will publicise it further.
The number to ring for further information is 0191 203 3456.
Being an "Oldie" isn't so bad after all!
Anne Donnan,
Sunderland

KNIFE TALK
LET my blade speak for itself
As it nestles in shiny scabbard
Uncaring inadequate kin are absent
Still searching for the materialistic "Eldorado".

Family values lie comatose on the ground
But my violent videos provide an outlet
For my violent macabre thoughts
Lying dormant in my immature brain.

Society, uncaring, godless and wayward
With values that melt like April snow
And politicians have lost their way
In a maze of legal confusion.Alex Branthwaite,
Friarsfield Close,
Sunderland

Happy Oddfellows
DO you need new friends? Then like me, why don't you join The Oddfellows?
This is a lovely group of friends (male and female) who meet every month and go somewhere different for lunch, and go to various places throughout the weeks just to socialise and enjoy each other's company. I was at an all-time low having just come through breast cancer and at the same time losing my husband, but on joining this association, I have never looked back!
As well as the lunches, we have visited Cragside, Alnwick Gardens, York, to a trip on the curry train, quiz night, pig racing, treasure hunt around Newcastle and much more.
The motto of this club is "making friends, helping people" so why don't you give it a try? You have nothing to lose but everything to gain. Please don't be shy, ring Malcolm on 0191 5482465 or email Malcolm.Dixon@oddfellows.co.uk who will give you all the details and I hope we'll see you soon!
Oddfellow

Code is not law
I READ with interest (Echo, Nov 5), from Concerned Careful Parker who says, according to the law, cars cannot be parked less that 32 feet from a junction unless authorised.
My question is – which law? What part of statute law/Road Traffic Act does it come under? – what can I refer to?
The new edition of the Highway Code, 243 states: Do not stop or park opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a road junction, except in an authorised parking space. Statutory Instruments 1989 No 1796, Road Traffic, Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 illustrates how to measure 10 metres from a road junction and the 10m starts after the curve of the junction has straightened.
These regulations only state where unlit parking is not permitted. These are law. The Highway Code is a code!
I live on a 50m-long cul-de-sac that is full on non-resident parked vehicles some of which park at the access/exit junction. This causes incoming vehicles to mount the 100mm/4-inch kerb and footway significantly destablising the vehicle as it turns in.
Two weeks ago I asked a police officer to ticket a regular parker who I was fed up with. He said he could not ticket the vehicle because if the driver challenged it he could not back it up.
The other day a visitor had considerable difficulty turning in, due to an occupied vehicle obstructing the junction who refused to move back 4m. I later approached the driver with a copy of the Highway Code for "educational purposes". A male passenger got out the far side and asked what I wanted. When I gave him the photocopy, without looking at it, he immediately swung a right hook into the side of my head before jumping back in the vehicle which was then driven off.
Orange into Blue,
Herrington,
Sunderland

AS as matter of interest what will happen regarding the speed humps when the snow arrives, have the council grit vehicles special blades to go over the humps? They will have to be made of rubber or they will damage the road.
M Todd,
Peterlee

I WOULD like to say a huge thank you to all staff at Ward E50 (Sunderland Royal) for the care, kindness and consideration shown to my mother Mrs E Maddison. Also to family and friends for attending the funeral and all their consideration shown.
Ms Siberry,
Ford Estate,
Sunderland

I HAVE noticed that a large number of people pick their noses while driving their cars. This happens mostly in warm weather and traffic jams.
I don't know if this is caused by nerves or some other reason but I dread to think what else they pick when they get the opportunity.
Dick Barton,
Southwick


RE Billy Dane's letter. I would like to report another incident of a "forgotten bus pass". I am 82 years old with white hair and the bus driver made me pay full fare. I had changed handbags and had forgotten my pass. A blind man on a galloping horse would have known I was a qualifying pensioner!
H Bartlett,
Another Sucker

I WOULD like to thank everyone who attended the charity ceilidh to celebrate my 80th birthday, in the Alexandra Hotel on October 24. All family/relations and friends, Cashel Ceilidh Band, the staff of the Alexandra, Millers of Silksworth for the buffet and donations received, £740 for Macmillan Cancer Support and £398 for Guide Dogs for the Blind. A total of £1,138 was raised. A good night had by all.
Grateful thanks. God bless you all.
Frankie Matterson,
Holborn Road,
Sunderland