REF: Heed warnings on railway picture, Josh McKinley, Wed, June 24.

Well Mr McKinley in reply I would say the rail line could be private and taken from an embankment. Tables and benches in the background. The footpath well I would stop if a train was coming.

1. Observation - train is standing - smoke going up - no steam coming out of pistons - wheels not turning - driver looking into cab, come on Mr McKinley trespassing risk.

2. So you were brought up in a coalfield area which one? I was it was called Co Durham a big coal mining area nothing but coal mines. One hundred and 61 mines when I started. I spent over 25 years in the mines.

a) No puppet to Arthur nor my family and friends - brothers, cousins, uncles etc.

b) I was on strike 1972, 1974 and 1984-85 we were fighting for our livelihoods, jobs and way of life.

c) The only evil presence in shops ran by miners’ wives would be the police who stood outside sniggering at the people going in. Being intimidated daily.

d) The evil were in blue, big sticks, shields, masks, no ID, no numbers, beating up women, old people and at times boys. Would they get away with it now?

e) As for the NDM well the proof is in the pie. The mines have closed they lost their jobs as well so don’t tell me about Maggie Thatcher.

BILL ORD

Greenmeadow

Haydon Wick