WE went to Blackpool one recent weekend to support three teams from Farringdon Detached Football Club.

They were the under 8, 9, and 10-year-olds who all did us proud by getting to the finals after two days of football in hot sunny weather.
Unfortunatly they were not lucky enough to win and picked up their runners-up trophies disappointed and with a lot of tears.

They all, standing in their red and white strips, wiped away the tears to shake the hands of the other team and give three loud cheers to all the winners.

They showed great team spirit and congratulations goes to them and their coaches for an excellent weekend from all their supporters.

They did Sunderland proud in their own small way.
Mrs G Jameson,
Warennes Street,
Pallion,
Sunderland

Great history fair
ON behalf of those many people involved in organising the recent Sunderland History Fair thank your Down Your Way correspondents and contributors to the Letters Page in celebrating the achievements of so many local organisations and societies.

The only disappointment following the event was that the fact that over 2,500 visitors attended the fair, which contained displays by 66 local groups, but received no acknowledgement in the media.

The event, organised by the Sunderland Heritage Forum, was made possible by support from Awards for All, Sunderland City Council, Sunderland University, Sunderland CVS and One North East, but most of all by those who work in a voluntary capacity in identifying, preserving and promoting the history and cultural heritage of the region.

This Fair was an opportunity to highlight the work of so many groups in the region and I am sure that exhibitors will have felt rewarded by the amount of interest shown, as demonstrated by visitor numbers.

Congratulations on the high standard of presentation seen throughout the fair and it should be hoped that further events will be promoted in the future.
Alastair Yule,
Norfolk Street,
Sunderland

Overweight children
DO you know an overweight child?

Channel 4 is making a sensitive, non-judgmental documentary series that will that will give an insight into the realities of overweight children growing up in modern Britain.

Working with leading British experts, Channel 4 wants to raise awareness about the experience of growing up overweight, by giving a voice to children and families who experience it first hand.

The researchers would like to talk to parents with children aged three to seven about their experiences.

For more information, please contact: Tel 020 7284 1246 or email ninalowes@twentytwenty.tv
Nina Lowes,
Associate Producer,
Twenty Twenty Television

Dozy parkers
I SYMPATHIZE with Joy of Washington (Letters, June 6), finding it very difficult to park in disabled bays at Asda because able-bodied people are parking in them.

Unfortunately Joy and the genuine disabled have been let down more by the very high percentage of people who are blatantly defrauding the blue badge system than they have by Asda.

Able-bodied people are constantly asking the question what warrants a blue disability badge, when in many cases they see themselves less able. This and the constant reports of disability fraud, I feel has brought able-bodied people to treat disabled bays with contempt.
Stephen,
Seaham

Dreams come true
THANK you to all the wonderful staff at Joplings, especially Ann in the childrens and toy department.

You made all my dreams come true on our trip to the UK. I had spent 30 years telling people here in Oz about my childhood Christmases at Joplings and Santa's grotto. Christmas in Oz was never the same.

So earlier this year, when my wife and I came to England to see the family, you can guess what was on the top of my list. You bet – Joplings.

When I walked in the front door after all that time I could still feel all that special Joplings atmosphere, the friendly staff, great canteen etc and Ann who knew what I was talking about with regards to a Joplings' Christmas.

Then I was told about Joplings' hard times. People of Sunderland you can't let anything happen to Joplings. It is an institution in the north of England.

I would like to thank the staff of Joplings for making us so welcome on our visits (I went in 10 times in the six weeks I was over ).

Joplings will never be far from my thoughts even more so now as they were so kind to give me a 200 years commemorative mug. Thank you so much.
Cyril Clark,
Kitchener Avenue,
Beauty Point,
Tasmania,
Australia