Lessons on loans
PARENTS want to scrap religious studies and PE in schools in favour of lessons on finance and health, a survey revealed.
With the new school year about to begin, mums and dads were quizzed about the current secondary school curriculum.
Religious studies topped the list of the lessons parents most wanted to ditch in the study by myvouchercodes.co.uk.
Geography, science and history were also among favourites for the axe along with PE.
More than 70% of parents wanted to bring in lessons on finance, including information on mortgages, tax and savings accounts.
STARING at her right hand, Linda Green starts to sob.
On her finger is a signet ring containing the ashes of her beloved husband Peter.
The couple were married for “28 happy and wonderful years” before their partnership was ended in the most horrific fashion.
While house-sitting for a neighbour, retired engineer Peter, 67, was bludgeoned and mutilated by the home owner’s “psychopathic” son.
His killer James Spencer is due to be freed from prison on Wednesday after serving less than 10 years.
Linda learned of his release in a text sent while she was on holiday in Spain.
She said: “I felt physically sick. I couldn’t believe it.
“I was supposed to go out with some ladies I had met over there. They could tell I’d been crying. I told them ‘That thing’, who killed my husband is to be released.
“I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“There is no justice, just ridiculous do-gooders who have no idea of the destroyed lives left behind.”
To add further insult, the killer will be allowed to live at a hostel in Leeds, half an hour from her home in West Yorkshire. Linda, said: “He’s not allowed to go to Skelmanthorpe but can go to Denby Dale, the next village, just a few miles away.
“No-one is safe. He’s totally unpredictable, a drug user and alcoholic, and very dangerous. He has no emotions, just pure evil through his entire body.”
“When he gets out the first thing he is going to do is celebrate. So he’ll go to the pub, have a few drinks and basically stick two fingers up at society.”
She added: “He should never be released. I’m devastated. He’s pure evil.
Of the attack on Peter, she said: “He never stopped. He just carried on and carried on. He destroyed my husband and he’s destroyed me.
“My husband was my life. I don’t live now, I exist.”
The couple married in 1980 after meeting at a wedding.
They later set up home in Skelmanthorpe. Peter worked as the principal engineer at Ferrybridge power station while Linda worked as a nurse.
Linda, 65, said they were unable to have children but enjoyed an active social life, with skiing holidays and a holiday home in Spain.
She said Peter would “do anything for anybody” and met his death while doing an act of kindness for a near neighbour.
In October 2008 he offered to house and dog-sit for Margaret Wheeler who lived round the corner.
Peter was wary of her son and warned Linda not to answer the door should he come knocking.
On the night of his death, Peter left home at 10pm to stay overnight at Mrs Wheeler’s home.
“He kissed me and said: ‘I’ll see you tomorrow’,” said Linda.
“Peter said if ‘that thing’ comes round you do not let him in.
“He (Spencer) came here at four in the morning. When he knocked on the door, I remembered Peter saying, ‘You do not let him in’.
“I tried to phone Peter and his phone was switched off. I wasn’t worried. I went to bed. The next day at 8am the phone rang and at the same time there was a knock at the door and there were two police officers there.
“I don’t know why but I said: ‘Is he dead?’ The officer said, ‘Yes’, and I just screamed. I thought ‘This is not real’. I screamed and went into