Let’s create a sculpture we can all be proud of
VIEWPOINTS Write to: Viewpoints, M.E.N, Mitchell Henry House, Hollinwood Avenue, Oldham, OL9 8EF Or email: viewpoints@men-news.co.uk
ON THE 20th anniversary of the unveiling of the Angel of the North, where is Greater Manchester’s iconic sculpture?
New York’s Statue of Liberty welcomes the world. Paris has its famous tower. Even Blackpool has got one of those. But what symbolises the energy, innovation and creativity of Greater Manchester?
I know the city council got its fingers burnt with B of the Bang that kept losing its spikes, but that shouldn’t put us off.
Greater Manchester is among the most important economic regions in the world – but what single image do we present around the globe? Surely not the cobbles of Coronation Street?
Andy Burnham should launch a competition to design a stunning Greater Manchester sculpture that symbolises our place as the powerhouse of the north.
And before the moaners start to gripe, the cost would easily be met from private donations. I’ll put in the first £100. Councillor Neil Butterworth, Rochdale
Education is key to life
RISING family poverty is claimed to be one of the reasons for record school expulsions. My father and his brothers and sisters went to school in the 1920s and they and their neighbours lived in abject poverty.
The school they attended was a central Manchester ragged school – their education was second to none.
They all left school numerate, literate and with lovely penmanship.
They had one teacher who taught all subjects and they all had excellent general knowledge, furthermore they all left school at 14 and went on to be tradesmen, engineers, seamstresses etc.
Children in third world countries experience unimaginable poverty, but they and their parents understand the importance of education as a road out of poverty and deprivation.
Presently, children and their parents know more of their rights than responsibilities, and rebel at any discipline. Joan Evans, Manchester
Still time to honour them
THE Munich Tragedy, 60 years on, highlighted once again, the bravery of Harry Gregg.
In 1990, I wrote to Margaret Thatcher, and also later to John Major, to consider honouring the bravery of former united star, Harry.
Harry was awarded the MBE some years later for his services to football. No mention of his heroism for which there is a Queen’s medal for bravery. Also, the captain of the Busby Babes, Roger Byrne, should also be recognised.
Roger was a Gorton Boy, born and bred, and lived on Carberry Road, Gorton. As a young boy, he was a pupil at Abbey Hey Primary School, just round the corner from the family home. A blue plaque would be appropriate on said home inscribed: ‘Roger Byrne, captain of the Busby Babes, lived here.’
It’s never too late. Better late, than never for Roger Byrne no longer with us and hero Harry Gregg. John Donohue, Bredbury
Not keeping this pledge
EACH time I go into Manchester city centre on the bus I see a large placard stating that Manchester is ending homelessness.
However, by the large amount of homeless people I see on the pavement, it seems to me that this good promise is to be taken with a pinch of salt. M McManus, Middleton
Let inmates do the work
THE problem for farmers and fruit growers regarding labour shortages could easily be solved by using volunteer prisoners.
They could be paid a minimum wage with a period of reduction in their sentence.
It would keep them fit, give them a work ethic, and there would be a lump sum earned on their release. Problem solved. Common sense, Levenshulme
We back this uni strike
WITHINGTON Labour branch would like to express our solidarity with UCU lecturers in Manchester who are out on strike this week.
University staff are facing national pension scheme changes that would see the typical lecturer facing a loss of £200,000 in retirement.
We are glad to see workers taking a stand against this.
Like all industrial action, they are setting a precedent for all workers fighting for better conditions.
It is, therefore, in all of our interests to support them.
Yes, the strike disrupts studies but a strike must be disruptive if it is going to be effective.
You can’t exactly strike on a Sunday!
In striking for better conditions for educators, the lecturers are putting a concern for the long term interests of students and the quality of the education they receive first.
The lecturers care about their students (and probably care about wages they will lose on strike days!).
They are striking as a last resort because they have been forced into this position by their employer’s infringement on their conditions.
If we want the strike to end we must call on their employer, the UUK to reach a resolution by meeting their demands.
This is what happens when education is run as a private business.
Students and workers need to stand together to protect education and ensure that it is provided as a public service that benefits the many not the few Josie Tothill, Withington Labour