Community festival we can all take real pride in
THEY say a community is only as good as its people. Levenshulme certainly came up trumps last week – yet again.
It hosted its first ever Pride Festival, and what an event.
From music and poetry events in its pubs and clubs, to tea parties, to awareness stalls and much more – everyone came out to show their support for inclusiveness in Levenshulme.
I have traded in Levenshulme for over 30 years and hopefully Levenshulme Pride can take it’s place alongside annual events, like the Levenshulme Festival – which takes place this year from Friday, October 20, to Tuesday, October 31, and our annual Christmas lights switch-on, which takes places on December 1 – and the many more exciting events in our busy, cultural calendar.
I was proud to attend our colourful parade.
And at a time when many areas are getting in the news for all the wrong reasons.
It was great to see Levenshulme yet again come together for all the right ones.
Many thanks must go to Jeremy Hoad and the Pride Committee.
Roll on next year. Lawrence Hennigan, Chairman of the Levenshulme traders’ association.
Blaming us pensioners
FURTHER to recent letters regarding pensioners, the Tories are trying to turn the younger generation against pensioners, peddling the myth that we are well-off and have done well since the banking crisis.
This is a prelude to reducing or freezing pensions (as they did with benefits) – I will put the record straight.
The first act by the milk snatcher (Thatcher) was to switch the criteria that pensions are calculated against inflation to the lower figure, losing pensions up to £200 per anum. Since the banking crisis interest rates have remained at 0 per cent, decimating people’s savings.
As for my fat public sector pension, for 40 years I paid 6pc of my wages into the fund and when I first started it – it was compulsory to join – I am now paying tax on that pension. Due to sound management and good investment, the Manchester pension fund has always been in surplus, that surplus is now being raided by this government to fund its own projects, like crossrail.
As for pensioners being useless citizens as implied, far from it. I know many retirees who do volun- tary work and look after grandchildren which enables parents to go to work, so making a substantial contribution to our economy. David Chadwick, Moston
Therapy cure for ‘zombies’
MOBILE phone mania has gripped the country.
People are walking about like zombies with these infernal devices clasped to their ears ignoring what’s happening around them.
It’s become an obsession that won’t be cured without therapy. ‘Phoneless’, North Manchester
Bolt goes out a true legend
IN all sports there have been many great legends and Usain Bolt is certainly one of these.
He has achieved a phenomenal amount of success and this allied to his great charisma guarantees he will never be forgotten by future generations.
Roger Federer, Pele, Jack Nicklaus, Sir Mo Farrah and the first sub fourminute miler, Sir Roger Bannister, are among the many elite members of the sporting fraternity.
Undoubtedly right at the very top, the master of charisma, incredible athlete and a man who talked a good game – and performed an even better one – was Muhammad Ali.
Usain Bolt, thank you for all the enjoyment you have given so many people.
You will never be forgotten. Harry Singleton, Ashton