Why Halloween is not a time to celebrate evil

Andrew Motion, former poet laureate, Elwes, actor, Natalie Merchant, singer

Steve Howey, former footballer, Ronnie Irani, former cricketer and commentator, Austin Healey, former rugby player, Hillary Clinton, former US Secretary of State “FROM ghoulies to ghosties and long-leggitty beasties and things that go bump in the night. Good lord deliver us.”

So folk in the past in Cornwall prayed. We do not have the things that they feared but Halloween should not be a celebration of evil things.

When invented, probably in 8th century Ireland, All Saints Day was the day when all saints without a special day were celebrated. And in the face of such goodness, all forms of evil had to run away!

Today, there are plenty of evils that need throwing out. Like the attitude of mind that got Jamal Khashoggi murdered.

Or the mindset that justifies using chemicals to kill in both Syria and Salisbury.

Or the attitude that claims cultural or religious justification for sexually abusing girls and boys.

Or the culture that approves carrying and using knives just because someone disagrees with you or you don’t like their face. Not to mention all those who spread or approve of violence and hate.

Or those whose only god is their money!

The old folk in Cornwall got it right when they prayed to the good lord Jesus Christ to deliver them from such evils.

We should do the same. And in addition we should do all we can to promote love and peace in the spirit that comes from Jesus. PREPARATIONS are well under way for this year’s Annual Brewery Charity Auction at noon on Saturday, November 3.

The event is once more being held at the Jubilee Refreshment Rooms on Sowerby Bridge Railway Station in connection with the West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust.

Readers of the Huddersfield Examiner are asked to help this worthy local cause by donating or handing in unwanted items from old breweries and pubs.

Do you have any old beer mats, pumpclips, ash trays or beer trays?

In fact anything beer related would be most welcome.

You can hand in and bring along items to the Jubilee Refreshment Rooms on the railway station at Sowerby Bridge or contact me, Andrew Wright on 01422 648285 or 07974 218547.

All the money raised on the day will go to benefit the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice in Huddersfield, pictured above.

Last year you helped raise over £2,500 for the charity.

Let’s see if we can beat this fantastic sum this year with your help and generosity.

I offer my thanks to all who have in the past contributed to make this annual event such a resounding success.