Reflect on why we need to stop extremist views and terrorism

IN response to Simon Jackson’s Letter in Wokingham.Today, dated 9th September 2021

Wokingham’s Heritage Open Day was part of a nationally organised festival that was happening across the country.

The date of September the 11th, this year, was not selected locally and many towns and historic buildings across the country opened up for people come and enjoy our history on that day.

It was a good event enjoyed by many visitors to the town.

However, I certainly do understand that we need to also acknowledge the compelling events that happened on the 11th September, 20 years ago in the USA.

I was affected personally, as I was living in San Francisco at the time.

I was actually trying to fly back to the UK on 9/11 to visit my parents.

Unsurprisingly, I was chased out of the airport by armed security before I got on a plane. Later that day, I found out that someone I knew was killed on United Airways Flight 93.

United 93 was on its way to San Francisco, before being Hijacked and crashed into a field when the passengers retaliated.

In a way, we were all affected by the events of that day, some more than others.It did change the direction of the world forever. For me, it instigated my return to the UK and started my interests in my community and how our government works, both locally and nationally.

While the commemorations of 9/11 have been more muted in the UK, I would encourage everyone to reflect on the compelling events of that time and why we need to stop extremist views and terrorism occurring.

Cllr Imogen Shepherd-DuBey, leader of Wokingham Town

Council

A long throat infection

FOR several years my MP Sir John Redwood has ignored my emails about April 27, 1982.

On that day Robin Day the presenter of The World at One on Radio 4 walked out while the news was being read.

The BBC said Sir Robin had ‘succumbed to a throat infection’.

This was just as the Falklands War was breaking out. Sir Robin’s throat infection lasted exactly as long as the war.

I suspect he walked out because the Tory Party tried to plant propaganda at a time when there was a chance of peace.

Because of the victory in that war Margaret Thatcher won the 1983 General Election.

Had the people been apprised of the facts her victory would not have happened. She was behind in the polls when the war began.

Stephen Sharp, Earley

Catching covid

I WRITE in support of Julie’s letter of September 9, which she sent in response to your ‘Dr Walter’ piece on Covid 19 vaccination.

When I worked abroad, I was vaccinated against hepatitis, yellow fever and malaria.

The doctor or nurse never said I might catch those diseases if an unvaccinated person came near me.

It looks as though with these Covid-19 vaccines, things are different, which I find very surprising.

Surely it’s reasonable for people to take time to find out what is going on with them, and then decide, without being demonized by the likes of your ‘Dr Walter’.

Stop killing badgers

R. Grange

THE country wants this government to stop killing badgers. There is no proof that they give TB to cattle, it is the other way round because of intensive farming. If you keep saying you will stop it, do it already.

Keep your promise for once and we will all be happy vaccinate them as you keep saying on farming today.

Also stop factory farming of chickens it is barbaric.

Also ban farrowing units for pigs the sows can not move nor can the piglets.

Victor Rones, Bracknell

Become a foster carer

BARNARDO’S is urgently calling for more people to consider becoming a foster carer after the numbers of children referred to the charity’s fostering services across the UK shot up. The number of children needing care has increased by 36% over 12 months.

Barnardo’s is looking for more foster carers to ensure that when a child needs a loving, stable and safe family, there are local carers available.

In particular, they are looking for people who would consider caring for siblings as they can offer each other support and it can help reduce feelings of isolation. The number of sibling groups referred to its services in the UK over the same period rose by 31%.

A new YouGov survey for Barnardo’s encouragingly shows that 14% of adults in Great Britain would consider fostering a child aged 18 or under in the next five years. However, that figure drops to just 6% when asked the same question about fostering siblings.

The survey shows how vital it is for siblings to remain together with 70% of adults saying it was important that they and their sibling were together when they grew up and 60% of respondents who had a sibling saying it would have had a negative impact on them if they had been separated while growing up.

Barnardo’s hopes to hear from people from all backgrounds from around the UK, including BAME and LGBT communities. It welcomes passionate individuals from all walks of life. If you are over 21, have a spare room, are a UK resident and have the commitment to support a child, you could be the person they need.

For further information visit www.barnardos.org.uk/foster

Emma Bowman, Barnardo’s South East Regional Director

Get ready to wear it pink

As we near Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, I’m calling on your readers to wear it pink, on 22 October. By taking part in the UK’s biggest and brightest fundraiser, readers can raise vital funds and help make life-changing breast cancer research and care happen at a time when it’s never been more needed.

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted how Breast Cancer Now has been able to support people affected by breast cancer – we had to postpone in-person meetings and repivot our support online, and our research was stalled when our labs were closed during the first lockdown.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women in the UK, with one in seven developing this devastating disease in their lifetime.

Disruption to breast cancer across treatments and care over the past 18 months have made the already frightening time of a breast cancer diagnosis even tougher for those faced with this difficult news, and the support we provide and hope our research generates has never been more essential.

We remain determined to be there the whole way through to support people when they need us.

You can play your part in helping us to do this by joining people across the UK to wear it pink on 22 October, to raise funds for Breast Cancer Now.

If there ever was a time to put on that pink top, proudly drape that pink feather boa around your neck or pull up those pink socks, it’s now. Together we can wear pink, raise money and help make life-changing breast cancer research and care happen. Join us and sign up today at wearitpink.org.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive, Breast Cancer

Now