Visitor praises Wolves fans, charity spirit and matchday atmosphere - your letters, plus a 1974 archive moment
From dying towns to football fans and parliamentary ‘pooh-poohing’ – your letters.
Black Cat loves the Wolves fans
We were at the Wolves v Sunderland match, and prior to kick off we had a walk around the town centre and met many Wolves fans who were great to sit and chat to in and around the Queen’s Square where the water fountains are.
We also met the great people who were raising money for Dementia Care UK. We contributed and thoroughly enjoyed the free samosas.
I just wanted to thank the people who must be among the friendliest we have met going to football matches around the country.
Here’s hoping for a quick return to the Premier League.
Stan Pullan, Sunderland
Poem: The Dead Town Poets
The towns are dying
Bringing words of sadness to some
Bringing inner visions
Writings and revisions
The sonnet of the shuttered shop has come!Urban desolation
Is bringing inspiration to these few
Who seek to find expression
Amidst the dereliction
Of the once thriving towns some of us knewEchoes of the past
Are calling out to those who just might hear
‘Oh hear us!’ They cry
‘Why do you let us die?
‘Are you content to watch us disappear!?’But what can they do?
Their words just seem to fall upon deaf ears!
A movement is required
We need to be inspired
‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ or so we hear.The towns are dying
Bringing words of sadness to some
Bringing inner visions
Writings and revisions
The Dead Town Poets are come!
Alan Jones, Halesowen
Fed up with the pooh-poohers
In all the years I have followed British politics I have never seen such a disgusting embarrassment to our democratic process as the recent Peter Mandelson debate in the House of Commons, where a whole afternoon was wasted on the question of did the Prime Minister pooh-pooh the pooh-pooh on appointing Peter Mandelson?
Hours and hours of pointless filibustering and vexatious argument spent when the Parliament could have been debating important issues like the Iran war or Ukraine war, the cost of living crisis, stopping the small boats etc, any decent leader would have steeped up and said enough is enough I will resign after the first hour of the pooh poohing.
The Mandleson debate will go down in History as the General Melchett debate from black Adder 4 - 'Never ignore a pooh-pooh I knew a major once who ignored a pooh-pooh - he pooh-poohed it, fatal error'.
I hope all the pooh-poohers are not expecting to be paid for their pooh-poohing on our parliamentary time.
Maybe Mr Speaker should open up a pooh-pooh enquiry into the pooh-poohing?
Gordon Edward Fanthom, Swindon, South Staffs
So, who could replace the PM?
What happens to the Labour Party if Starmer gets kicked out of his job?
Not one of his senior cabinet members have a clue on how to run our country.
Lots of them will put their names forward hoping to get their hands on the top job.
But if you go in a betting shop they are all outsiders, the favourite is No.10’s pet dog, who is more popular than any of them.
Kenneth Clibery, Lanesfield
Pubs pay price for cost of beer
The Star did a feature on our many wonderful pubs. I wonder how many will still be here in five years’ time? My guess is very few, because they simply cannot make a living in today’s anti-alcohol world, with the high costs of rates, rent and wages.
It won’t take prohibition (that will come in time, due to changing religion in the UK) to force the closure of pubs, but simple economics. In 1958, beer was 10 old pennies a pint — 24 pints for £1 — and now it is over 100 times as much, at £5 a pint. So many have simply given up drinking as it’s too expensive.
W F Kerswell, Picklescott
Great run for all
A very short note to thank organisers of the Great Birmingham Run. It was welll organised and the atmosphere was fantastic throughout.
Mark Pickett, Shifnal
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