Help with research on Marine

Nov 14 2007 by Kevin Core, Birkenhead News

I AM undertaking some biographical research on Surgeon Lieutenant Peter Hodgson RN, who died in January 1983 whilst on exercise with the Royal Marines in Norway.

He was born in Birkenhead on March 31, 1952 and a member of the Church Lads' Brigade in the 1970's at St Saviour's Oxton Company.

In 1972 he went to Buckingham Palace to receive his Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award and at that time he lived at Moss Close, Greasby.

He was buried in Frankby Cemetery, Birkenhead and he left a widow, Anne-Louise.

If anyone can assist me with any information on Surgeon Lieutenant Hodgson, it would be appreciated.

TERRY HISSEY

13 PARK MEAD, SOUTH HARROW, MIDDX, HA2 8NQ. 020 8423 6865

Laird’s sadness

ALL THE euphoria that is surrounding us with the return of the name Cammell Laird will bring back sad memories for the thousands of ordinary working class people (including myself) who lost their savings when investing in shares to support the workforce’s future when the yard went `bust` under a Labour Government and which now appears to be supporting the resurrection of the yard with possible proposed navy work.

What of the lost savings?

FRANK ROBINSON

Tunnel appeal

RE: TUNNEL vision for Capital of Culture - It should read Capital Of Closure.

What would be different is to have all four lanes of the Wallasey tunnel open for a full day for a full week.

Without fail at busy times they put out the cones and cause chaos, diverting traffic down to one side of the tunnel.

It would not be so bad if something was getting done but as far as I can see none of the pot holes have been filled or any other work carried out.

Maybe one of the toll booth operators could start a new trend and smile.

Why can't the tunnels look good all the time for the people that use them every day?

From the final paragraph of the article the hundreds of thousands of visitors are to have their memories of seeing the tunnels in all their glory, while the residents of Wirral and the frequent users can just put up with what they have.

A BIRCH-MURPHY

WALLASEY

Noise kill-joys

I CANNOT help thinking that your letters page (Wirral News November 7) is presently full of 'kill-joys'.

Yet again the issue of the 'noisy helicopter' on Birkenhead School playing fields is raised.

To assuage the concerns of local objectors the property developer is carrying out acoustic tests.

Your correspondent brands helicopter activity as 'noisy - full stop' & guilty of 'light pollution at night as they seek out their targets'.

This is perhaps an unfair allusion to the Police Surveillance Helicopter which hovers and tracks criminals so that we may sleep safely in our beds at night.

Reading this letter and its virulent attack on someone who has made good in life no doubt by his own hard work, we might be forgiven for thinking that the scenario equates with Terminal 1 at Heathrow.

I recently witnessed a helicopter landing in the grounds of a well known North West Hotel, no doubt ferrying footballers or horse racing jockeys etc to lunch and watched avidly by most of the hotel's guests.

As a pilot myself I have seen it before but it never ceases to be exciting.

Barbara Sinclair complains about increased noise levels of fireworks, describing them as a 'torrent of explosions which could be mistaken for a war zone'.

I am sure Ms Sinclair will remember fondly from her youth, as I do, the excitement generated by the bonfires and firework displays. I hope her plea is not just another nail in the coffin of this 500 year old tradition.

COUNCILLOR DAVID KIRWAN

HOYLAKE

A shoddy place

I’M SURE that Alan Stennard, Wirral Council’s director of regeneration, Bob Moon, cabinet member for culture, tourism and leisure, and Sue Powell, head of libraries, will not be having sleepless nights over the recent spate of letters in the newspapers and sent directly to themselves regarding the state of Wirral leisure facilities, the reason being that they probably receive enough wages to alleviate any guilt.

Wirral is a shoddy place; it shouldn’t be, but it is. According to the stickers on council vehicles “Wirral has heard the cry of the earth”. Ha! Street lighting around Mersey Park has been out for approximately two years and litter bins overflow around Birkenhead.

I’m curious to know why in the past 10 years or more, the windows of Birkenhead library have been cleaned only once - this I have been informed by an insider.

As councillors, you are supposed to be working for us, the people but, like a group of cowboy decorators, you keep papering over the cracks and not giving us anything solid. We don’t want circles of birds, clowns and “Viking” boats; we want decent, functioning facilities.

SANDRA McDONOUGH

Parking point

CONGRATULATIONS to Wirral Council on its outstanding achievement of making on-street parking in central Birkenhead as expensive as central Rome.

M HARRISON,

OXTON

Post your views

TO THOSE residents who value village life and all that goes with it, you must be livid about the plans to close your local Post Office, yet we are told that the government has initiated a national public consultation on this very issue.

Have they listened to the public response? I think not so far.

December 17 is the closing date for public consultation.

If you are able get out and visit your Post Office, sign the petition if you agree or disagree. It’s the only chance you have to have your views taken into account. This is called democracy, would you believe.

HUGO MARCHEN,

LOWER HESWALL

Tippers warned

LEAVING the house to go to work, I glanced up Landican Lane and saw, to my disgust, at least 40 tyres dumped on the verge and road. They were also obstructing access to a public footpath and bridle path.

The moron who did this obviously has no intelligence. Not only is this against the law but also it is irresponsible and dangerous.

I hope this idiot reads this and understands that residents who live here will report anyone fly-tipping to the relevant authorities.

Is it the fact that these people are just too lazy to drive to a waste disposal site and pay a nominal fee for the safe disposal of their waste, or is it the fact that they think tipping it on a quiet lane unseen is the cheaper option?

I think it is the latter. This particular moron is not the only one; tipping happens at least once a week with builders dumping their waste.

The Streetscene team, when they were contacted, have dealt with the problem quickly and I can only thank them for a job well done!

Landican Lane is not only a village with a community but also it is used by the public for walking pets, horse riding and just to get away from it all. This is spoiled by selfish inconsiderate people.

One final word to the people who do this tipping - you have been warned. If you are seen, your vehicle registration will be noted and photographic evidence taken, and you will be reported.

Do the right thing and get rid of your waste responsibly.

LANDICAN RESIDENT, BY EMAIL (NAME SUPPLIED)