I AGREE with the sentiments expressed in Colin Auty's poem. It is a civilised expression of sentiments felt not just in Savile Town but other towns in a similar position.
The town must be occupied by people who do not speak English, otherwise there would have been no need for Mr Malik to make his first speech on election night in a foreign language.
My family lived in Savile Town from the 1960s to the late 1980s. I
remember Queenie's fish and chip shop, the scout hut where the sea scouts met. I remember a big ceremony there when the band of the Royal Marines led a parade. Dad was thrilled to see the parade as he was a marine during World War II.
I remember a bakery owned by a white baker who offered to teach my brother how to play drums, unfortunately for mum who wanted a quieter life.
After years of harassment my parents finally moved out. In the 1980s one of my uncles passed away. Mum was ill and couldn't afford the funeral. The harassment began as soon as we left and when we returned mum was a nervous wreck. The wall dividing the two front gardens was knocked down.
Even when we left it wasn't without incident. We suddenly found the offer for the house being reduced by £5,000 and, because my parents were committed to the new purchase, they had no option but to agree the new price.
In light of the fact the police never responded to our requests for assistance (and I know of a lady attacked in Savile Town who just managed to get in her car and lock it and called the police who did nothing) it's hard to know if the police really know what goes on in Savile Town.
I don't know if the mosque on Headfield Road is still popular but when we lived in Savile Town the buses to Thornhill were crowded with Asian men and bed rolls. Men of my dad's age used to talk to him and complain about imams coming from abroad to incite the young. Now the young are parents and grandparents, and the incitement goes on.
Coun Ameen should bear in mind that local people in any area will find change difficult to cope with. And our memories and our history in this country and this area go further back than his.
I think it's time the Reporter did a retrospective on Savile Town and Thornhill. Savile Town has links to the Prince Regent and the artist Richard Conway. Apparently a couple of descendants lived in Savile Town in the 1870s, 80s. At the beginning of July there will be another anniversary of the pit disaster at Thornhill when 139 men and boys died in 1893.
CHRISTINE BARTHOLOMEWFirthcliffe Road
LIVERSEDGE
