Readers' letters - June 5

Why not ask passengers who pay for the tickets?
Many trains have been cancelled or delayed recentlyMany trains have been cancelled or delayed recently
Many trains have been cancelled or delayed recently

Luckily, I don’t rely on rail travel, apart from occasional pleasure purposes. But there’s a certain irony that, at the moment, our train operators seem unable to provide services because they don’t have enough drivers. And to load even more problems on the poor traveller, at the same time the rail unions are striking because they want to ensure that there is no single manning of trains.At least, both sides are in agreement that they would like to increase the number of employees! However, there seems little consideration for the poor customers who both pay to travel or for the disruption of not travelling.Incidentally, I suspect that the vast majority of customers, given the opportunity, would vote for the provision of a guard on every train, it would add little to the cost of each ticket and ensure a more secure journey. Why not ask the people who pay for the tickets?AFAddress supplied

Celebrating our everyday heroesI would like to seize the opportunity of Volunteers Week, this week, to thank all of our St John Ambulance volunteers who work tirelessly in local communities, supporting patients and their families through some of their hardest and most vulnerable times.Across the country, the volunteers of our charity give close to a million hours every year to support the public at events. That’s over 100 years’ worth of hours given humbly and without expectation of praise.Many of your readers will, I am certain, have good reason to join me in thanking our volunteers for their medical care. Some will undoubtedly owe their lives to the skills of these everyday heroes.In addition to our frontline first aid provision, St John’s impact would not be possible without all the teams whose work happens quietly in the background, away from the spotlight. I would like to take this moment to celebrate those volunteers in support roles across our whole organisation for making it all possible. I am also grateful to our young people and their leaders, plus other volunteers such as advocates and first responders, along with the teams of managers.Thank you for all that you do, for your family spirit, kindness and dedication, and for representing the values that have been the very foundation of St John throughout all its distinguished 900 years of history.I am immensely proud to be part of this venerable organisation and my thanks are not just for Volunteers Week, but for every week.Brigadier Iain Robertson St John Priory GroupLove’s on the menu

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I am writing to you from Hat Trick Productions, an award winning television production company responsible for the hit ITV dating show Dinner Date.We are currently making a brand new series of the show and will be filming an episode around the North West this summer, so are looking for single men and women in the area to take part. It would be great if you could help us spread the word.At the start of each programme, a singleton is given five three-course menus to choose from, each put together by a potential date eager to make an impression. The guest will pick three dinner dates purely on the basis of which menus they prefer. Over the three nights, they’ll meet the people behind the menus, going to each date’s home for dinner. At the end of the three dates, the dinner guest will choose which one of the hosts they want to take out for a romantic meal and which two will dine in alone.You don’t need to be an amazing chef to take part, you just need to be single and up for a blind date!Anyone interested in applying can email us at [email protected] are very excited to be coming to the area and (hopefully!) helping people find love!Ophelia CaveHat Trick Productions

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