IT seemed such a good idea to start hosting concerts at the Stadium of Light. That is until I turned up to the Oasis gig on Wednesday night.
I have been to many gigs, concerts and festivals, but never before have I actually feared for my life.

Organisation was very poor. As we entered the stadium we were herded into a tunnel which was packed full of people with nowhere to go and one young girl acting as a steward. Stuck, we missed nearly all of the supporting acts.

Announcements were made telling people to move from the East Stand. But most people who don't regularly go to football matches there did not know they were in the East Stand and did not know how to get out of where they were as there were no signs or staff to direct the crowd.
People continued to pile in and the crush continued to get worse.

People struggled to breathe. Many were in tears. No one could see what was happening.

When people from above started to use their mobile phones to film the fiasco, my thoughts flashed to the Hillsborough disaster.

It is a matter of safety that these matters need to be addressed before they host another concert.
Mrs Pearson

Great gig, but ...
FIRSTLY may I say my friends and I thoroughly enjoyed the concert. It was absolutely fantastic
Our only gripe was the hour wait in a massive queue leading back to Kier Hardy Way to get
into the stadium and that we missed the first act.
Only one entrance gate was open near the ticket office. Why were the turnstiles not open as they would be on a match day?
I'm sure avid Sunderland fans would not have been happy if they had to stand in the queues like we did. This was really bad organisation.
Take that Fan,
Sunderland

Badly organised
I ATTENDED the Take That concert on Saturday, June 6. It was fantastic and I hope the boys come back to the North East again soon. But not to Sunderland.
After hearing horror stories from friends who had been on the Friday night, we were more that ready for jam-packed Metros to and from the event with journey times taking up to two hours from Newcastle, no staff on the platforms for crowd safety or to ask advice from and a bit of a wait to get into the stadium itself.
But nothing prepared us for a one hour 45 minute queue when we arrived at the stadium at 5.45pm. It was badly organised. Stewards stood around making no attempt to manage the crowd.
We missed the first support act Gary Go and only managed to get into the stadium to hear three songs from The Saturdays. We were a group of nine and as you can imagine, very disappointed to have paid almost £50 a ticket and then not get to hear the support bands.
The stadium was unprepared to host an event of this size and the stewards not experienced (or care enough) to work at this type of event. I have been to many bigger concerts in this country and abroad and they were better managed and organised.
The biggest proble was that the general admissions were only being made through one area and this was creating a bottleneck as only a handful of stewards were available to check tickets before passing us on to another steward who then had to fit a wristband.
What was the point of that, we all had tickets? People who had seating tickets were able to walk straight up to their allotted gate and walk straight in.
Why didn't someone at SAFC have the foresight to manage the crowd and allow general admission tickets to enter the stadium in this way to in an attempt to reduce the crowd and enable everyone to get in as quickly as possible?
Mrs Kat Watson,
Gateshead

Hendon still good
ARTICLES, commentaries and letters appearing in the Echo in recent months, imply Hendon is in terminal decline.
But upon spending time within the location and speaking with residents, it is clear that it is no less vibrant and desirable than other areas within the city of Sunderland
It is accepted that certain streets may require more attention than others, but adverse press coverage does not advance matters. It is an affront to those individuals passionately involved with Hendon's regeneration and the various agencies that are endeavouring to improve the area.
But what is the policy for Hendon? And what is the quality of the evidence upon which the policy is based?
A policy of selective licensing, a knee-jerk reaction to recent legislation, is a response not a solution to Hendon's ailments.
Being bellicose and belligerent towards private landlords within Hendon merely irritates and alienates. Rather we should all focus our attention upon the worst properties and endeavour to eradicate the worst landlords from Hendon.
David Gatherer,
Chairman,
Sunderland Private Landlords

UNCUT MEADOW
JUNE when sun a golden knot
Shone on uncut meadow
Acreage of dazzling pigments
Kingcups danced waved in morning wind
Carpeted clover spread purple cloak
And waved in morning wind.
Cowslips whirled with pristine daisy
Arterial poppies exposed themselves
A yawn of fire to outdo
Humble willow herb
Awesome meadow treasure
Lingered in the mind.
Alex Branthwaite
Friarsfield Close
Sunderland

Old church's blue plaque is wrong
AM I the only one to notice that the information on the present blue plaque on Sunderland Parish Church is incorrect?
The plaque, paid for with Heritage Lottery Funding awarded to "The Friends of Sunderland Old Parish Church", replaces a perfectly good plaque which at least gave us correct information.
The plaque claims that the church housed Sunderland's first council chamber. Robert Moon of FOSOPC proclaims that the church was Sunderland's first town hall.
Wrong on both counts.
The church has a "vestry" and the vestry was the seat of local government within a parish. It was one of the roles of every parish church and had many responsibilities including building control, maintaining roads, employing parish constables and scavengers, collecting taxes and handing out poor relief.
From the dissolution of the monasteries until 1719, the vestry at Bishopwearmouth Parish Church held responsibility over Old Sunderland, so the vestry at Sunderland Parish Church wasn't even the first Vestry for Sunderland!
The vestry was presided over by the incumbent of the church and the town council was presided over by an elected Mayor.
Having studied the church's own records which are now in Durham, they do not show a Mayor having ever kept office at Sunderland Parish Church.
Vestry minutes do not mention the church ever being recorded as a council chamber or town hall. The clerks who wrote the records at the time only ever mention the term "vestry" and I trust their information.
The blue plaque is therefore misleading and inaccurate and ought to be replaced.
Sharon Vincent,
Sunderland

Moral dilemma
OVER the years I had always told my children and my grandchildren that the law of the land is based on the "reasonable person" and that if a thing is illegal then it is immoral, and if a thing is immoral then it is illegal.
The fiasco regarding expenses for MPs is typical of an exception to the rule.
I reckon those MPs knew it was wrong, but most of them said, "I've done nothing wrong, it was within the rules". I can only assume that those MPs are morally bankrupt.
So, what is the voter to do? Does he vote for a candidate who is honest but his policy is against what he believes, or does he vote for a candidate whose morals are dodgy, but whose policies he agrees with?
Ron Bonallie,
Lee Street,
Fulwell

Diabetes risks
I AM writing to ask your readers to support leading health charity Diabetes UK during Diabetes Week which takes place from Sunday 14 June to Saturday 20 June.
This year's theme is Act Early, Improve Lives, and has been chosen to reflect the charity's 75th anniversary year and that by acting early, lives can be improved for people affected by diabetes.
Diabetes is the fastest-growing long term condition in the UK with 2.5million people diagnosed. A further ½million people have Type 2 diabetes but don't know it, putting themselves at increased risk of heart disease, blindness, amputation, kidney failure and stroke.
Diabetes UK is aiming to raise around £8million this year to fund vital research which will ultimately lead to a cure so to find out more about how you can support them in your local area, visit www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetesweek or ring 020 7424 1000.
Joe Pasquale

Rennisons quest
I WRITE in the hope that some of your readers can assist me in respect of William Rennison, Royal Engineers 1914-18,
Special Constable 1939-45 and
Ronald L Rennison, Sergeant – Sunderland Borough Police
I have recently bought two sets of medals and would like to learn more of their family background etc. As the medals were sold as two lots in the same auction, I am guessing that the recipients were related.
In addition Sergt Rennison had two privately issued medals. They were issued in the period Jan-June 1926 and on September 6, 1926.
Both are in hallmarked silver and made to a very high standard. This was the year he joined the Sunderland Police. I also know throughout his life he was very active in the St John Ambulance Brigade.
I would be very pleased to trace the origins of these two medals and the background of the organisations who issued them.
If there are still any members of the Rennison family in the area who can help me fill in historical data, I would be delighted to hear from them.
I am not seeking such information for any monetary gain, just my own interest as the now owner of the hard-earned medals.
Roger W Tucker,
17 Kingsway Drive,
Kidlington,
Oxford
OX5 2LZ
Tel. 01865 379278

Bob's revelation
THREE cheers for Mr Latimer
For his dedication and his stamina
His perseverance in "clean-up" allegations
Of NW's, filthy floating, beach invasions.

Stinking rafts of infected turdulence
Drifting in a sea of gaseous purulence.
Ignored by EU, NW – and their sycophantic clones
Bob Latimer reveals their flag, a skull and cross bones.
DB Glover,
Seaham


WHY put a hotel on top of Joplings when we have a lovely listed building, the Orphanage, down the East End and it's all in its own ground? Plenty room for taxis and buses to get in and out. No room at Joplings. Holiday buses, would have a lot of bother.
Phyllis Redman,
Doxford Park,
Sunderland

ON behalf of the Sunderland Amateur Boxing Club I offer our thanks to the Silksworth and Ryhope Darts and Dominoes League for their very generous donation to our club. The money will be used to replace worn-out equipment. We wish the Silksworth and Ryhope Darts and Dominoes League all the success in the future season.
C Quenet
Sunderland