Celebrate our Norse heritage

Jun 10 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

IN reply to Harry Smith’s “Cruel Vikings” letter (June 3).

A genetic survey published last year led by the University of Leicester – birthplace of genetic fingerprinting – showed that up to half the DNA of men from old Wirral families was Scandinavian in origin so, like it or not, the Vikings are very much part of us, and what we are today.

The Vikings had an extraordinary energy with a thirst for adventure.

It is true that they would use violence when they had to, but that was common for the time, and the historical records suggest the initial settlements at least were peaceful.

We have all the place names and archaeologically there have been some fantastic discoveries in the area – we are very fortunate in having a very pro-Wirral team at the National Museums at Liverpool.

And of course with Tranmere we have the only football team in the English League with a Norwegian Viking name.

So in the Vikings and Tranmere, this is something we as Wirral people, can be very proud of. I certainly am!

PROFESSOR STEPHEN HARDING

Nottingham University

Senseless

I DON’T know whether you will read this or not, but it makes me feel better just writing it.

I want you to know what a senseless act of violence you carried out on my little dog on New Brighton Promenade on Sunday, May 24.

My little dogs have an unfortunate way of playing with each other in that they nip each other and then chase each other round and round.

It’s not aggression, it’s their way of having fun. A way of fun that other dogs don't understand and the reason I never let them off the lead when there are other dogs around. Unfortunately you and your family came upon me before I could get them back on their leads.

I asked you politely to get hold of your dog – you were instantly aggressive towards me and preferred to hurl abuse in my direction.

You are a very big man and when your foot connected with my little dog the noise made me feel physically sick. To then say you enjoyed it was even worse.

HEATHER BURTON

via www.wirralnews.co.uk

Parking woe

NESTON used to be a lovely place to shop, but not any more. A large section of the main car park is out of use.

We had a Somerfield store where I shopped regularly. It was also a boon to many older or disabled shoppers who could choose their own shopping and then have it delivered free.

The Co-op took over Somerfield and ours was sold to Aldi. However Aldi won’t be opening for six months. Luckily we still have two small butchers, two bakers, a small greengrocer, a small Iceland and a tiny Tesco Metro.

We also have a Friday market. However that is sited on what remains of the main car park so if you can’t walk into Neston you’ll be lucky to find anywhere to park.

CATHERINE RENFREY

via www.wirralnews.co.uk

Fair on fares

YOUR reader complaining about having to have a ticket for his bus pass seems to have completely missed the point.

Being able to insist on having a ticket means that he will be counted as a passenger and Arriva can claim back his fare.

I believe that many of the routes which have been cut were those used mainly by older passengers with passes and the drivers very rarely bothered to “count” them on. Their records would show that those routes were hardly being used and were losing money.

The other point I noticed from this reader’s letter was that he seems to think that having a pass gives him the right to jump the queue by waving his pass.

I would expect better manners from an older person (I am one myself and always wait in the queue).

NAME AND ADDRESS SUPPLIED

Why Wirral?

I DO not agree with the comments of E Miller, who said pensioners are not getting discriminated against.

What rubbish, this scheme does not apply in Liverpool, Southport or St Helens so why pick on Wirral? If Arriva are worried about how many OAPs and disabled people use their buses then they should have started this in Liverpool, it’s a far bigger area than Wirral.

P KNEALE

BIRKENHEAD

Lazy drivers

WILL the department putting up the signs saying “There’s been X Amount of Accidents in X Amount of Years” please put up some in the Dips area of New Brighton to stop the lazy, selfish car owners who have started to turn the lovely play and picnic area into a car park.

Since when was it allowed? They drive over the pavement, damaging slabs etc, then leave mounds of rubbish as a thank you. These people who cannot walk one metre from the road way that is itself the biggest free car park in Europe need sorting out.

D CHRISTIE

via e-mail