Region should be proud of Captain Cook

From: Tim Hunter, Farfield Avenue, Knaresborough.

CAPTAIN Cook was a shining example of social mobility (GP Taylor, The Yorkshire Post, June 17). He was born the son of a farmer who stood very little chance of advancement in the Navy.

However he made his way to the top through merit. He quickly drew the attention of his superiors for his exceptional abilities as a navigator and cartographer, which were remarkable given his lack of formal education. He carried out voyages of discovery which were great achievements of navigation and which added greatly to scientific knowledge.

Cook had an impressive career, rising from humble origins in Yorkshire to become one of the greatest explorers. In Yorkshire we are very proud of him. Cook didn’t colonise Australia, nor advocate for its colonisation. However, his exploration of the Australian east coast allowed it to take place.

Cook was a humane man and his encounters with indigenous peoples were always wellintentioned. He also treated his crew well, at a time when the treatment of sailors was generally harsh. His fame extended beyond the Admiralty; he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society and awarded the Copley Gold Medal for completing his second voyage without losing a man to scurvy.

In Hull, we also have a statue of William Wilberforce, who was responsible for the abolition of the slave trade. He was a very humane man who also campaigned against cruelty to animals.

Although Wilberforce rejected party labels, he was considered to be deeply conservative and was a loyal supporter of the Tory government led by his friend William Pitt.

Then, maybe we should consider the importance of the statue to Emperor Constantine in York. Constantine was in York when he became Emperor in AD 306. Constantine converted to Christianity, stopped persecution of Christians and helped establish the Christian church as we now know it.

There are positive and negative aspects to many historical figures. We need to accept the past and learn from it.

From: Lin Jefford, Whitby.

I AM very disappointed in your article (The Yorkshire Post, June 15) regarding the locals who are guarding Captain Cook’s statue from threats of damage from protesters. Your description of them as demonstrators is wrong and your placing the word guarding in inverted commas seems to insinuate that the word is used tongue-in-cheek.

From: Ian Fuller, Portland Crescent, Harrogate.

PATRICK Hutchinson carrying to safety a white injured man sums up just how wonderful the real people are. “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother” brought a lump to my throat. Patrick has done more for race relations than any politician or left-wing university activist could ever do. I salute you, sir.

From: Henry Cobden, Ilkley.

A SADNESS from the current protests is that no council, or firm, will want to erect a statue in future of an individual who merits such a tribute.