Western Morning News, The

Science and Souls ; the Evolution Versus Creationism Debate Continues in the Western Morning News, and for Those of Us Who Read Esoteric Literature It Is Not a Case of Either/or but of Both/and, and the Two Camps Are Really Arguing at Cross-Purposes.

The evolution versus creationism debate continues in the Western Morning News, and for those of us who read esoteric literature it is not a case of either/or but of both/and, and the two camps are really arguing at cross-purposes. Modern scientists, looking objectively at the findings of Darwin, have accumulated a wealth of evidence for the case of a long, slow development of our bodies and minds from animal ancestors.

State School Policy has Failed ; Dr David Pedrick-Friend (Letter, April 24) Should Realise That Most Pupils at Private Schools Are Children Not of the Idle Rich but of Ordinary People so Displeased with the Standard of Education Provided by His Party's Government That They Are Prepared to Make Drastic Changes to Their Lifestyle to Afford Expensive Private Fees Instead of Taking Up the State's Option of Free Schooling.

Dr david Pedrick-Friend (letter, April 24) should realise that most pupils at private schools are children not of the idle rich but of ordinary people so displeased with the standard of education provided by his party's Government that they are prepared to make drastic changes to their lifestyle to afford expensive private fees instead of taking up the state's option of free schooling. The number of such pupils has in fact risen in recent years in spite of an increase in the state education ...

Much to Be Ashamed of in Nation's History ; After Reading Colin Richey's Letter (April 15) On Votes for Criminals and European Law, I Feel He has Not Looked Thoroughly Into the Problems He has Written About.

After reading Colin Richey's letter (April 15) on votes for criminals and European law, I feel he has not looked thoroughly into the problems he has written about. First, let us look at the Human Rights Act, which was signed by Tony Blair, and fully accepted by his Government, and our nation in general. I say this because there was no protest by the public not to sign the Act.

Distorted View of National Park ; Ian Liddell-Grainger Mp (Wmn, April 17) Wonders 'What Protected Status has Achieved for People Who Live and Work On Exmoor'. I Hope the Results of His Survey of Exmoor Residents in His Constituency Enlighten Him, but in the Meantime Maybe I Can Help.

Ian Liddell-Grainger MP (WMN, April 17) wonders "what protected status has achieved for people who live and work on Exmoor". I hope the results of his survey of Exmoor residents in his constituency enlighten him, but in the meantime maybe I can help. His distorted perception of Exmoor National Park Authority is based not on objective facts nor the authority's record over many years, but on an outdated, misinformed view that national parks are only about environmental conservation and in som...

Police Will Respond If Authority Is Questioned ; Colin Richey Writes to the Wmn On the Need for the Police to Be Hard On Protesters. Has He Ever Been On a Mass Demonstration?

Colin Richey writes to the WMN on the need for the police to be hard on protesters. Has he ever been on a mass demonstration? The Countryside Alliance on its big London demo found out that the Tactical Support Group (aka the Riot Squad) is not a bunch of Dixons of Dock Green and that their mostly middle class background did not protect them as they would have usually expected. And what I find telling when they bloodied a CA protester outside the House of Commons is the total disbelief on the...

Not Only Weather Forecasters Get It Wrong ; I Read with Interest the Letter From David Scott Criticising Weather Forecasters for Their Predictions About Easter Bank Holiday Weekend and Suggesting That People Involved in the Tourist Industry Can Do Something About It. Surely He Is Suggesting That They Can Turn Back Time to Achieve This.

I read with interest the letter from David Scott criticising weather forecasters for their predictions about Easter Bank Holiday weekend and suggesting that people involved in the tourist industry can do something about it. Surely he is suggesting that they can turn back time to achieve this. It is ironic that Mr Scott should criticise other people's forecasts when, as part of the campaign team for Torbay to have an elected mayor, his own predictions have proved so wrong. For example:

Dread Thought of Turbines' Devastation ; the Expansion of Green Energy Is in Every Responsible Person's Mind and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband Calls for a Massive Expansion of Wind Farms Across the Region. What a Devastation of a Beautiful Rural Countryside.

The expansion of Green energy is in every responsible person's mind and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband calls for a massive expansion of wind farms across the region. What a devastation of a beautiful rural countryside. The prospect of wind turbines 100 metres and more high, spread across the South West, fills me with dread.

Up-in-the-Air Decision On Cherished Landmark ; It Is a Tragedy That One of Torbay's Most Loved and Cherished Landmarks Could Be Turned Into a Five-Star Hotel and Its Grounds Built On As Torbay Council Cannot Afford the Repair Bill of Pounds2 Million.

It is a tragedy that one of Torbay's most loved and cherished landmarks could be turned into a five-star hotel and its grounds built on as Torbay Council cannot afford the repair bill of pounds2 million. Oldway Mansion was built for the Singer family at the end of the 19th century, and has a long and valued history.

Country Houses at War ; During the Second World War Country Houses Across Britain Were Requisitioned for Use by Schools, Hospitals, Homes for Evacuees, and Military Centres.

During the Second World War country houses across Britain were requisitioned for use by schools, hospitals, homes for evacuees, and military centres. I am a history student at university in the United States and am working on a research project on British country houses during the Second World War.

Sheep's Evidence ; We Are Hearing Through the Media of Cases of Sheep and Cattle Rustling, Many in the Westcountry.

We are hearing through the media of cases of sheep and cattle rustling, many in the Westcountry. It reminds me of the early 1950s, when I was a country policeman in North Cornwall and experienced a case of sheep rustling when some 20 young sheep were stolen.

Sir Clement Was Our Inspiration ; I Never Met Sir Clement Freud, but I Was a Young Liberal Party Volunteer at the Ely by-Election in 1973. I Was Living Near St Neots in the Huntingdon Constituency, and Ely Was Just Down the Road.

I never met Sir Clement Freud, but I was a young Liberal Party volunteer at the Ely by-election in 1973. I was living near St Neots in the Huntingdon constituency, and Ely was just down the road. I had spent a day out canvassing and, with some other volunteers, had arranged to go out to a meeting in a little village out in the Fens where Freud was speaking. Part of our thinking was that the meeting would only be sparsely populated and our presence would go to make it look a little more res...

Pro-Hunt Demo Was Real Threat ; Someone Should Challenge Robert Hardman's Report ('No Outcry Over Country Folk Beaten by Police', April 17) Comparing the Bbc and Other Liberal Media's Critical Stance On Force Used On Newspaper Vendor Ian Tomlinson During the G20 Disorder Outside the Bank of England and Their Reaction to the Policing of the Countryside Alliance's Pro-Hunting Demonstration in Parliament Square in September 2004.

Someone should challenge Robert Hardman's report ("No outcry over country folk beaten by police", April 17) comparing the BBC and other liberal media's critical stance on force used on newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson during the G20 disorder outside the Bank of England and their reaction to the policing of the Countryside Alliance's pro-hunting demonstration in Parliament Square in September 2004. Otherwise his portrayal of Metropolitan Police officers as the shock troops of the new socialist ...

Merits of Second Homes Unproven ; Kirstie Allsopp (Letter, April 18) Decided My Facts Were Incorrect Relating to Her Second Home.

Kirstie Allsopp (letter, April 18) decided my facts were incorrect relating to her second home. Well, in the interview on the BBC Today programme she said her second home bordered Matthew Taylor's Truro constituency, so had de facto to be in Cornwall. I am very glad that it is not the case, given the housing misery we live with west of the Tamar. It was her comments on the BBC which led to my letter

Recycling Old Fables a Disgrace to Science ; After 150 Years of Darwinian Indoctrination, a Recent Poll by the Think Tank Theos Showed That 32 Per Cent Believe in a Young Earth and 51 Per Cent in Intelligent Design.

After 150 years of Darwinian indoctrination, a recent poll by the think tank THEOS showed that 32 per cent believe in a young earth and 51 per cent in intelligent design. In a country of free speech and thought the blatant, one-sided attempt to make people believe in the Theory of Evolution has failed.

Yard Experience ; Have You Worked at the Royal William Yard in Plymouth or Known It As a Working Stores?

Have you worked at the Royal William Yard in Plymouth or known it as a working stores? Can you remember it during the Second World War - were you on fire-watch there? Have you had a more recent involvement with other operations before its conversion into residential properties?

Play Safe On Climate Change ; According to the Beginning of His Letter (April 14) Theo Hopkins Is Confused About Climate Change. But He Is Mostly Dismissive of Our Need to Reduce the Proportion of Atmospheric Co2 Which, According to Ice Core Samples, has Risen More Quickly Since the Beginning of the Industrial Revolution and Is at a Higher Level Now Than at Any Time Since the Evolution of Man.

According to the beginning of his letter (April 14) Theo Hopkins is confused about climate change. But he is mostly dismissive of our need to reduce the proportion of atmospheric CO2 which, according to ice core samples, has risen more quickly since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and is at a higher level now than at any time since the evolution of man. We know CO2 is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, though not as potent as much scarcer methane, and we know how ...

Earlier Earlies ; Regarding Your Article 'Bay Potato Crop Is First to Hit the Shelves', April 22), We Were Interested to Read Sainsbury's Claim to the 'Winner's Accolade for Their Annual Race' to Get the First Cornish Early Potatoes Into Their Shop in Truro.

Regarding your article "Bay potato crop is first to hit the shelves", April 22), we were interested to read Sainsbury's claim to the "winner's accolade for their annual race" to get the first Cornish early potatoes into their shop in Truro. Well, our customers were enjoying beautiful Cornish Earlies from April 4! Our local shoppers and Easter visitors loved the fact that they could enjoy delicious "real home-grown new potatoes" to celebrate the start of spring and all the good things that com...

Repeal Act That Empowers Brussels ; with the European Election in June Providing the Opportunity to Elect the Party That Best Represents Our Views in the European Parliament, Whether for Leaving the Eu or a Closer or Looser Relationship with Other Member States, It Is Time for Serious Political Consideration.

With the European election in June providing the opportunity to elect the party that best represents our views in the European Parliament, whether for leaving the EU or a closer or looser relationship with other member states, it is time for serious political consideration. Let's not lose sight of the fact that it is only our elected representatives in Westminster who are enabled to change this relationship. Consider, how is it possible that around 80 per cent of the laws to which we are sub...

Spare a Thought for Fate of Lambs ; at This Time of Year, the British Countryside Is Filled with Lambs Gambolling in the Fields, Playing with Their Brothers and Sisters yet Staying Close to Their Mothers for Security.

At this time of year, the British countryside is filled with lambs gambolling in the fields, playing with their brothers and sisters yet staying close to their mothers for security. I am sure that many people do not even stop to consider why the lambs are there or where they will end up.

Relax with Buddha ; We All Like to Think That We Know Our Surrounding Area so Well - Far Better Than the Emmets and the Grockles, That's for Sure.

We all like to think that we know our surrounding area so well - far better than the emmets and the grockles, that's for sure. So I was prompted to comment on the letter from Jenny Wren (April 21), who complained of being held back by slow motorists - men in particular - in her "gloriously leafy lanes".