Proud to help refugees in 1940 and now in 2017

OUR local town of Harwich was proud to commemorate the Kindertransport last year in St Nicholas Church, when we remembered that hundreds of child refugees were saved from the Holocaust of Nazi Germany and given accommodation at the then Warners Holiday Camp in Dovercourt.

These children grew up to make a positive contribution to our society.

We did not then ask, how much it will cost, what burden will it be?

We know now that it was worth every penny; they have given so much to our country.

Today councils and communities are offering similar respite to children and young people, but are being blocked by the government. We promised to take 3,000, but our present government has reneged on this promise, cutting the number to 350.

Is this how we wish to see ourselves, citizens of a cruel, uncompassionate, nasty country? Can we not return to our more humane character which we expressed at the time of the Second World War?

Our town currently is giving hospitality to one Syrian and three Afghanistan families. Much support has been offered and willingly given by Fresh Beginnings.

This is a reality which our government is unwilling to recognise when denying access to children.

Some of these children have been trapped in places like the Calais camp, allowing young children to become teenagers in this awful situation – now the media is pretending they are grown-ups.

How ridiculous and post-truth this is. What wonderful ambassadors against extremists they are.

Please give us some proper, true, pictures of the reality of child refugees and the chance for the many generous, kind, people of our country to express their compassion and hold out the arms of love to these desperate human beings.

May we be saved from inhumanity, fear and racism.

The media must do more to portray refugees in a more humane and dignified way, thereby encouraging our government to do more to make the UK a place where refugees are welcome.

The Rev Colin Knight Church Hill, Ramsey

Praise is due to by-election officers

I WOULD like to congratulate Mike Bush on his election to Tendring Council and wish him every success in representing the residents of Great and Little Oakley.

May I also thank the residents who gave me their support in the election. It was much appreciated.

I have nothing but praise for the officers of the council, who organised and ran the election. Talking to councillors from all political parties on polling day it is clear that they have the utmost respect for the council’s officers and the manner in which the election was organised shows why this is the case.

Last but not least, may I express my gratitude and admiration for Harwich branch Labour Party.

This was my first election campaign and the energy, enthusiasm and dedication of the Labour team was amazing.

It is widely accepted that the local Labour councillors work incredibly hard on behalf of the local community and, working alongside them on this campaign, it is clear that they richly deserve their good reputation.

Rob Shephard Labour’s candidate for the Great and Little Oakley ward by-election We need phased growth of hospital I AM always concerned when sudden funding is thrust towards the peninsular like many other offers, challenges and pressures in the past.

Knee-jerk, or ultimately panic reactions set in and we are presented with a “fait accompli” to add to the ever growing list of misfit pieces in our jigsaw puzzle.

Knowing the unique character of the peninsular would it not be possible for our council representatives, with of course major assistance from the local public, the voters, to produce a regeneration plan of our own.

The purpose being to identify those misfitting items and consider our options and essentially not to block off changes that need to be made and adding to the confusion.

An ideal target would be a peninsular fit for the locals then perhaps dressing it up for the visitors would be an unnecessary pursuit.

We can always resort to outside planners, if necessary, to put the final touches to our thinking.

On the question raised by health chiefs, their proposals seem a little at odds with their current difficulties.

Insofar as the Harwich Hospital is concerned it already has the basic hospital accommodation, with a doctors’ surgery and practice nurses, a fully fledged pharmacy, and on the adjacent area we have a newly developed accommodation complex catering for varying needs residents.

So let us have a staged development of facilities at our hospital and a redirection of potential users from a six to eight mile radius.

Come on Colchester Hospital, you know it makes sense, and would ease your burden.

E.J. Heath Manor Road, Dovercourt

The dangers of dubious Donald

I ENJOYED G Grafton’s letter on the President Trump petition (February 10).

There are now so many petitions on dubious Donald, that one has to get up early to sign them.

I guess all bets are off on what this divisive man will come up with next.

We are in real danger now, given what is also happening in Europe, of being plunged back into the political volatility of the 1930s.

The Queen would probably prefer to tear the head off a pigeon than entertain the Trumps.

Whatever she serves him, it will be a climb to reach any kind of deep thought. He’d probably offer a deal on Buckingham Palace.

When this sideshow of humanity shows up in London, we will be left in no doubt how we value the ‘special relationship’, but not his trashing of the decency, dignity and values we enjoyed under President Obama.

Collin Rossini Main Road, Dovercourt

Devastated by turn of events

Darryl and Angela Jeffrey of Harwich Glass & Window Company Ltd would like it made known that Mr Ross Carr was dismissed from the company on the day that theft allegations were made against him.

We were devastated that this has happened as we been established 25 years in the town and are proud of our reputation.

Darryl & Angela Jeffrey Harwich Glass & Window Company Ltd