We understand that the poor service is down to buses breaking down and having to be sent to Ipswich for repair, without, it appears, a spare vehicle in reserve here in Bury. Whatever the reasons, schedules are being missed.
The smaller country services always seem to arrive/depart on schedule, which means that sometimes we are unable to make a connection for onward travel.
In case no-one has mentioned it before, First is unable to have its bus stop signs placed on the correct side of the road – two in Briarwood Avenue. How many more?
The blame for bad service cannot be with the drivers, who, without exception, we find very helpful and courteous.
First is about to take over the park and ride at Ipswich. If First is unable to operate a town service here in Bury efficiently, it should not take on more work elsewhere.
Roy Day,
Park Road,
Bury St Edmunds.

Look again at the data

Last week's Bury Free Press carried an article on hidden areas of deprivation and Cllr Dave Ray raised concerns about the accuracy of the data being used.
In the original document were village profiles, in the data for Stanton was a stated population figure of 2,073 allegedly from the 2001 census. Actually, the 2001 census figure was 2,683. Even back at the 1981 census, Stanton had a population of 2,267.
The village profile information contained in this report reads 'population size and composition are crucial elements in any attempt to identify, measure and understand social exclusion. It is important to know how many people live within a settlement, and their characteristics such as age and sex'.
It becomes fairly obvious that using a population figure from about 30 years ago is hardly the place to start from.
The statistics for Stanton are not the only ones to be so wrong, Great Barton has a quoted 2001 census figure of 1,512 but it was actually 2,085. Several others are equally wrong – but strangely some are correct. Is this not a case of back to the drawing board? And perhaps next time, Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion, Suffolk Action for Communities in Rural England and Suffolk County Council who compiled this study can visit the area they are about to blight.
Jim Thorndyke,
Stanton.

Six months of sheer hell

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to Mr Greenwood (Resident's anger at building work, Bury Free Press, July 11) and I can empathise with him. I, too, have the misfortune to live adjacent to a Havebury development and have had six months of sheer hell.
It started with insecure security fencing falling into my garden over the Christmas holiday, which stayed there, leaning dangerously on my fence, until work resumed in the New Year. I endured weeks of excavations that resulted in a huge spoil heap next to my property with a bulldozer parked on top. The dust from this exploit made me really ill and affected my breathing for weeks. Then, the builders cut off my water supply just before they were due to disappear for a weekend.
Since work began, I have had my home, garden and car constantly covered in dust. Some days, it is so bad that I cannot go out in my garden and have spent some of the sunniest days this year indoors, with all the windows and doors firmly shut.
Two weeks ago, I had my car covered in brick dust because the builders did not bother to put up any protective screening or take other precautions, resulting in the paintwork being scratched.
When I have contacted Havebury by phone, nobody is available to speak to me and promises of return phone calls do not materialise. As for letters, it takes weeks to even get an acknowledgement, let alone a reply.
Why are developers allowed to ride roughshod over us?
Name and address supplied.

Well done and thanks

On Saturday, July 5, I attended my first Thurston Prom, an event organised by the staff, cadets and civilian instructors and volunteers of the 863 Squadron of the Air Training Corps.
Having lived in the village for 10 years, I only wish that this had been my 10th visit. The music, singing and bands were all of exceptionally high standard. The displays by the cadets, including a very moving rifle display in World War One uniform, were very good, too. With true military precision, every event was catered for and the long, covered awnings made it possible to thoroughly enjoy the event in all weather. It was lovely to see so many families of all ages picnicking while watching this event. The event ended in true Last Night of the Proms fashion with us all singing along to Rule Britannia and Jerusalem, etc, waving our flags and climaxed with a spectacular fireworks display, which rivalled some that I have seen at the big theme parks in Florida.
This was followed by a busy Sunday, July 6, where the squadron put on a busy schedule of activites including an air show, fair and inter Air Training Corps assault course and other activities. These, too, could be fully enjoyed irrespective of the weather. An event that once again ran and was organised so efficiently.
Well done and thank you to everyone involved with this event. Wonderful to see so many young people working to make this event so positively unforgettable.
I cannot remember enjoying a weekend as much as this and would say to everyone who has not yet benefited from a visit to these events to try them next year. A word of caution though, you may become hooked and return year after year to this annual event.
Tracey Clewer,
Thurston.

Thanks and amazement

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all friends and colleagues for their sincere 'Get Well' messages after my heart attack on July 5.
I am now back home and recovering well.
I cannot thank enough everyone for the dedicated professionalism as shown by all NHS personnel involved in treating my illness – from the paramedic emergency crews, the West Suffolk Hospital Coronary Care Unit ward staff and those at Papworth Hospital Coronary Unit. Within six hours, my condition had been successfully treated and, despite one or two minor problems, I returned home within five days.
The most amazing feature was the procedure of angioplasty, carried out at Papworth with minimal intervention and I wasn't even sedated. The definition/contrast produced by this special x-ray apparatus was so clear that locating blockages was much easier to achieve and as a former Army medical radiographer, I watched the whole process with amazement on the television screen. This equipment has clearly revolutionised heart treatment – on my ward, two patients on two successive days were treated successfully and then went home after 24 hours.
If this type of equipment could be made more available within the NHS, then national successful treatment times could be substantially reduced and targets reached.
Patients at Papworth have a much better 'Get well' feeling than most, in that not only are the staff enthusiastic in their attempts to successfully treat them, but they can also relax by the famous pond and/or make a visit to the adjacent parkland.
It is therefore regrettable that Papworth is destined to close in the near future and be absorbed into the Addenbrooke's complex when there is room for a new Papworth on the current site.
Don Stevenson,
Genesta Drive, Thurston.

Taking issue over letter

I must take issue with two points raised in the letter from councillors Farmer and Rout (Bury Free Press, July 11), concerning proposed changes to licensing in the 'historic core'.
Firstly, they state that '. . . if implemented, it (the proposal for new licensing measures) will ensure that there will be no later opening hours or new premises in this area, except those which will not add to the cumulative impact of the existing licences'. Surely, this merely maintains the status quo, which is what I understood the residents of the area to be unhappy with in the first place.
Secondly, in the same letter, the councillors further claim that, should new or altered licences be requested '. . . it will be up to them (the licensees) now to show this will not increase alcohol-related problems, instead of residents having to show it will'. How does one prove a negative?
What exactly does the Churchgate Area Association and its allied councillors actually want?
Martin Webb,
Hospital Road,
Bury St Edmunds.

Looking for my family

Now I have reached retirement, I am beginning to research my family tree and therefore ask if it is possible for you to print this letter.
I am a descendant of a close relative of A W Marlow, who – if family legend is correct – went on to establish Marlows, in Bury St Edmunds. My grandfather was Ernest Albert Marlow (born 1903), son of Ernest William Marlow.
Old family photographs show a shop front with the name A W Marlow over the window. I hold a Christmas card from Mr & Mrs H V Marlow with the address 73 Glisson Road, Cambridge. I also hold a photograph of Susan Mary Peddar, aged eight weeks, with the address 94 Queens Road, Bury St Edmunds.
There's also a photograph of The Rabbit Hutch, Hawkshead, Bury St Edmunds, and I also have a death notice for Albert Marlow, who died on 23rd November 23, 1886.
Solely for the purposes of tracing my family tree, I'd be delighted if anyone could and would please confirm the association the family story believes to be true.
If anyone could also put me in touch with a descendant of the Marlows founder, then I will be more than pleased to hand over copies of the above, plus the other photographs I hold.
Pauline Hornsby,
paulineknit@yahoo.co.uk

Youngsters go for gold

I must tell you that this year's Bury in Bloom school judges were delighted to visit a record-breaking number of schools entering a record-breaking number of categories!
Here are some more of the many very positive thoughts from the happy judges Linda Draper and Margaret Blake:
"Fabulous courtyard, full of healthy vegetables."
"Spectacular wildlife-friendly vegetable plot."
"Beautiful weed-free setting – very tidy."
Many of the nearly 30 categories included edible planting undertaken by pupils and they loved eating their fresh vegetables and fruits.
Well done to all the schools that took part in the competition this year and a record number of gold certificates will be handed out to schools at the Bloom Awards ceremony on September 28.
Brian Cash,
Schools judging co-ordinator, Bury in Bloom.

Venue claim not correct

In the Bury Free Press of July 4, there was a report of the latest full meeting of St Edmundsbury Borough Council at which Cllr Mildmay-White suggested that EEDA may have refused a request for even more money for the venue because of 'mischievous press reporting' – an idea rejected in excellent letters from Tom Murray and John Chittock (Letters, July 11).
But she added 'this venue, together with the underground car park, is a key feature in the development of the town. It is a £20 million investment which is attracting £90 million of investment', thus inferring that the development would not have been built had it not been for the venue and underground car park.
I am astonished that such a long-standing member of the cabinet could say this.
Cabinet paper T513 of April 14, 2003 ,on the development agreement, states in paragraph 2.5 'the agreement allows the council until September 2003 at the latest, to decide whether it wishes to deliver a public building or other public amenity on the Cattle Market'. So the commercial development was clearly not dependent on the venue.
At that time, the venue was to provide 1,000 seats for
£9.5 million and the cabinet had not even considered an underground car park (when proposed by 'the 32' in February 2003, the council opposed it); the late Peter Drew subsequently recommended underground capacity for 1,000 cars to allow enough central parking for both the development and the old town. Council eventually agreed, but very shortsightedly, to only about a quarter of that.
Anthony Platt,
Westgate Street,
Bury St Edmunds.

With reference to the Cattle Market saga and Tom Murray and John Chittock's letters (Bury Free Press, July 11), may I make some comments and ask a few questions?
Cllr Mildmay-White blames the people who have paid through the nose for this monstrosity in the first place for not getting extra funding. Why? Because they refuse to throw good money after bad? Haven't these people ever heard of fixed price contracts?
As I understand it, in Holland, Belgium, Germany and, I believe, France, all government building contracts without exception are issued on a fixed price basis, with clauses allowing for a price increase equivalent the rate of inflation, plus three per cent per year and a penalty clause equivalent to 0.125 per cent per calendar month or part thereof if the project goes over the specified completion date.
West Germany took over another country and started to rebuild in 1989. As far as I am aware, to date, after 19 years, they have had 11 contracts over budget and overrun.
Over the last six weeks I have watched a television programme on Channel 5 in which amazing building projects have been undertaken. One was a bridge between Sweden and Denmark and the other was connecting two islands in Japan, which consisted of building an island in the middle of the sea from scratch, then putting a tunnel through it to take two lanes of road traffic, then building bridges at either end, to connect to respective mainland islands. This project also included designing and manufacturing the tools to do the work. Both of these projects were completed on time and below budget, taking two and four years respectively.
So what have we got after two years? At least a year's delay on completion, a 50 per cent increase in costs, with a lot more to follow, and for what? An upside down fruit bowl and seaside chalets stuck in the middle of a town.
Roger Holton,
Flemyng Road,
Bury St Edmunds.

Searching for details

Can any of your readers help me? I recently discovered that my real father was a Canadian soldier, but even though my mother is still alive, she remembers very few facts to enable me to trace him.
She was only 17 when she met and fell in love with this young man in the autumn of 1943, while he was stationed at a camp near Bury St Edmunds.
My mother was living in a genuine gipsy caravan with her parents at Icklingham, while her father was employed in war work nearby. Their romance lasted but a few brief weeks.
After a visit to her home town for a few days, my mother discovered that her young man and his unit had been despatched to the front, wherever that was. They had not exchanged details and my presence had only just become a reality. My mother recalls only that his name was Vernon, he was a French Canadian soldier, tall and fair, with a lovely accent.
On inquiring at the Records Office I learned that although the air bases kept track of all personnel, the army bases were too transitory and no records were kept locally.
With so little to go on, I have little hope of discovering who my father was. I know there are thousands out there like me, whose paternal lineage ends at World War Two, but I would love to glean as much background information as your readers may recall from memories or memoirs, as any little detail will help me to build up a mental picture of who I am.
The idea of contacting you came from my grandson Rory, who lives in Bury, and who is fascinated by the discovery that he has such an illustrious great-grandfather. So, for Rory's sake and the rest of my family, as well as for my own, I would like to put together a scrapbook of photos and personal recollections that describe the social life (I know my mother loved to dance), the uniforms, where the bases were etc, anything to give some substance to the nebulous image I have of a quiet, gentle man who, in all probability, died in some foreign land.
Anne Godden, email harvey.gooch@gmail.com

Diabetes support

Thank you SuffDig (Suffolk Diabetes Interest Group) for informative evenings in June and April.
There was lots to learn about the management of diabetes and expert advice. I advise anyone with diabetes to ask for information about SuffDig and future events.
Janet Collett,
via email.