'Bucks' grammar school system should be outlawed' - readers' letters

To send your own letter, email bfpletters@london.newsquest.co.uk.

Please note, any letters sent to the Bucks Free Press office are only being picked up periodically as all staff are still working from home.

LETTER OF THE WEEK: 'Majority of travellers are good people'

Having been shopping at Hazlemere shopping parade, I returned home and had just settled down for a bite to eat when there was a knock on the door. 

A hi-vis clad gentleman with his large lorry parked outside, asked me if I wanted my drive cleaned. I said no thank you not at the moment. 

He smiled and said, “Well I’ve got something for you” and produced my purse, rather the worse for wear.

He explained that he had been to the shops at Hazlemere and driven over the purse, for which he apologised. 

He showed me that everything was present and correct, including a large sum of cash. 

He said due to his Gypsy culture, he couldn’t keep the cash as it would bring him bad luck. He had found my driving licence and decided to return the purse in person. 

He didn’t want a reward, he just wanted me to know that there were honest travellers out there. I often deal with travellers and told him that the majority of them are good people.

I thanked him profusely as I didn’t realise I’d dropped it. 

He was an absolute diamond and made my day. I didn’t catch his name, but send him a huge thank you for his kind gesture.

Helen Evans, address withheld

‘Bucks' grammar school system should be outlawed’

John Bercow is correct in challenging the selective education system in Bucks. 

The Buckingham Grammar Schools Association (BGSA) are now academies with the ability to set their own admission arrangements. 

They can choose to become comprehensive or partially selective schools serving their local communities. 

BGSA should recognise that the selective system in Bucks is a relic from the era of British colonial attitudes. 

During this period, many socially and discriminatory attitudes and policies were tolerated and practiced as the norm. 

Selective education is a survivor from these times and should now be outlawed like all other forms of prejudice and discrimination whose objectives were to deny equality under an assumption of social and racial superiority. 

Selective education imposed by an 11+ test is simply discrimination surviving from these times under the cloak of the discredited Cyril Burt inherited intelligence theories. 

The world has moved on, discrimination in any form is no longer acceptable. BGSA should recognise that the selective system in Bucks discriminates by denying the majority of Bucks students the superior education opportunities available in our surrounding comprehensive schools.

Derek Berry, High Wycombe

£2m better spent on Covid support?

The confirmation that there was never a need to spend £2 million on a cemetery for the dead of High Wycombe (Controversial new £2m cemetery nearly finished) comes as no surprise.

As the Bucks Council spokesman explained, the existing cemeteries in the old District area, plus the Chiltern Crematorium, have coped with the deaths during the pandemic.

The £2 million could have been spent on Covid-19 support in the area.
The main beneficiaries of this pointless civic vanity project were the contractors – Cemetery Development Services and A J Bone.

The main losers were the citizens of Hazlemere who saw a designated recreation ground shut off in February and destroyed from March onwards.
Just at the time when it would have been most useful for folks needing to exercise during the first lockdown.

The other losers are the Bucks taxpayers who will have to fund the full costs of making and then running the cemetery for ever and ever.

As Bucks Council have no plans to bury anyone in it perhaps the gates could be opened and the residents of Hazlemere allowed to use it for recreation again? And marvel at how our councillors can waste money.

Andrew Barrow, address withheld

Festive cheer in gloomy times

Great Missenden Abbey have absolutely nailed adapting to the unprecedented times.

Their festive light walk brings a feeling of Christmas spirit while staying Covid safe. 

I would highly recommend anyone feeling a little subdued this year to pop along and be mesmerised by their beautiful twinkling display. 

Wrap up warm, wear your boots and be taken on a magical walk through their grounds, knowing that you’re helping to support the local hospitality industry that has been hit dramatically by the pandemic.

Linsay Stichbury, address withheld

Yet another supermarket?
I would like to give my support to Cllr Brian Pearce for his comments regarding another supermarket at Cressex. 

The reason given to allow this was ‘to bring more people to the town’. How does this work?

We already have Asda, an enormous Waitrose, John Lewis, and Next, they must a sufficient draw.

Halfords and B&Q at Loudwater must have lost a lot of trade since a supermarket was allowed to build very close, making it very difficult to get out of their car park. 

Maybe they would be interested in the Cressex site.
The council seems to have the mind set to put supermarkets on any spare piece of land.

High Wycombe used to be known for its furniture industry, now it must be Supermarketville.

J Wentworth, address withheld

Future of EU care home workers?

Chesham and Amersham MP Cheryl Gillian wrote in Bucks Free Press on November 20, ‘Care staff are working wonders in lockdown’. 

But many of those care staff are from the rest of Europe. How does Cheryl Gillian think they feel today?

On January 29, carehomes.co.uk carried the headline ‘Care leaders warn migrant salary threshold will ‘shut door’ on EU care workers’. 

It reported that Simon Bottery, senior fellow at The King’s Fund, said: “One in six staff working in adult social care in England have a non-British nationality. 

“These workers are crucial for the viability of social care services which are struggling to cope with approximately 122,000 vacancies at any one time.”

How would you like it? Suppose you came from another European Union member country, in good faith? 

You thought that home was here. Then there was a debate about you, without you. You were denied a vote on your own future. 

You were told that nothing would change for you. Now you are told you have to apply for ‘settled status’ or you will become unlawful. 

You saw that the government officially did not have your interests at heart when it used you as a ‘bargaining chip’ to ‘get a better deal’ in the 2019 European Parliament election.

Perhaps you were one of those turned away from polling stations because of admin failures.

Delayed by coronavirus, the court hearing on that injustice is going to be on January 26-27 next year.

Who wants to put their family through the upheaval of moving to this country in this atmosphere?

Phil Jones, European Movement UK

Concerned about club expansion

I was deeply concerned when reading your article about planned expansion to Wycombe/Hazelmere croquet club. 

Having been involved with youth football for many years at Penn and Tylers Green (now retired) and entering teams in the Hazelmere 6s, I know first hand how vitally important keeping young people involved in sport. 

Not only general fitness, but also mental well being, and feeling a part of something. It puzzles me on how this can even be a consideration.

There are two simple questions to ask:

1. How many young people are involved in football on a regular basis, compared to croquet?

2. How many young footballers  live within a five-mile radius of Hazelmere recreation field, compared to croquet players?

I think I may know the answer.

I was at Hazelmere Recreation Ground on Sunday morning, 6/12 watching some adult football. 

Two matches, involving 56 players. Nobody playing croquet at 10.30 am. 
When the games had finished at 12.15, there were two people playing croquet.

I could possibly understand it if there were many people waiting to play croquet but clearly on what I saw Sunday, and on other occasions I have been at the rec, this isn’t the case. Elite centre or not.

Sorry people, this is a no brainer.

Lyndon Pearce, High Wycombe

New charity group for young people

The NSPCC is looking for young people to join a new group that gives them the chance to shape and influence the charity’s work, and ensure they are at the heart of our decision making.

We are launching the Young People’s Board for Change, and want to recruit 15 members aged between 13 and 16. 

The board members will use the platform to  raise awareness of what matters most to them, take action and make change happen. They will also have a big role internally advising staff and trustees.

The young people will take part in new experiences and opportunities, meet other young people, as well as develop confidence and learn life-long new skills, such as campaigning and public speaking.

Over a two-year period, members will take part in residentials, meetings and workshops, and campaign to share their views and opinions. 

We want as many young people as possible to have the chance to apply, so we are encouraging parents and carers to speak to their children about this exciting opportunity, and teachers and other professionals to share details with their students and through their networks.

We are keen to hear from a diverse range of young people from backgrounds and communities across the UK, including young people with disabilities – so we would encourage anyone interested to get in touch. 

At the NSPCC, we are committed to ensuring that young people are empowered and that their opinions are listened to. 

It’s vital that we put children and young people first and embed their views into everything we do in our fight for every childhood. 

Readers can find out more at nspcc.org.uk/boardforchange, or for informal chat please contact participationteam@nspcc.org.uk. 

The deadline for completed applications is January 11 and interviews will be held between January 18 and 21. 

Anna Collishaw-Nikodemus, NSPCC campaign manager

Marie Curie is here this Christmas

With Christmas just around the corner, this year more than ever we will want to celebrate and spend quality time with the people we love, even if that might look different than we expected. 

People who are approaching end of life or coping with a bereavement might find the festive season a difficult and overwhelming time of year.

More than one million people in the UK are expected to be caring for someone with a terminal illness this Christmas, during what could be their last one together. 

Millions of people have also been bereaved since lockdown began and with every death, comes grieving friends and family. 

Many of you in these situations may find yourselves struggling to cope with the demands and pressures of the festive season or feel isolated and don’t know who or where to turn to for extra support. 

Marie Curie’s trained support line officers can provide practical information on everything from managing day-to-day with a terminal illness, to planning ahead. 

We also offer emotional support if someone needs a safe space to talk. 

We have a dedicated bereavement service where callers will be paired with a volunteer, who can offer a regular listening ear, as well as a check-in and chat befriending service that lets you arrange a call back from our support line at a time that suits you, whether you need support or just someone to talk to. 

If you have been affected by dying, death and bereavement and need support over Christmas and New Year, then please contact Marie Curie for free on 0800 090 2309.

Alternatively, visit mariecurie.org.uk/support to chat online or to find out other ways we can support you.

The support line is also open to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals dealing with end of life care this Christmas. 

Our online information platform includes guidance for professionals on palliative care which is updated regularly. 

Matt Williams, head of information and support, Marie Curie