Fond memories of a man of many talents Sir - I was sorry to read in the Craven Herald the sad news that Jack Heald had died.

Jack was indeed a man of many talents and will be remembered by many for his willingness to smile and chat to anyone he met in the street.

One of my amusing memories of him was an occasion very many years ago when he was invited as Guest Speaker at a dinner at Ghyll Golf Club. To everyone’s surprise he arrived just before the meal wearing a very smart dinner jacket and black tie. It was surprising because Ghyll was affectionately known as a working man’s golf club and no other guest was similarly attired.

However, he did apologise for his ‘faux-pas’ and promptly removed his jacket and bow tie, followed by his trousers and shirt, leaving him just in a boiler suit, provoking much laughter before giving a very amusing speech.

Robert Hall Rock House Thornton-in-Craven Jack will be missed Sir - Although I was aware that Jack Heald had been far from well in recent years, it was nevertheless with sadness that I read last week of his passing at the age of 86. Tributes to him in the local media have been well deserved.

The first time we made contact was 60 years ago, in 1954, when as a junior reporter with the Clitheroe Advertiser and Times I was involved with a news item which had a West Craven connection. A colleague suggested that I should get in touch with one Jack Heald, of the Craven Herald, who would help with the information I sought. And so he did.

Some years later, working with the Leader-Times group in Nelson, I came into contact with Jack more often when from time to time I was seconded to cover assignments in Barnoldswick.

On one occasion, sitting alongside Jack at Jepp Hill and reporting a meeting of the Urban District Council, members found themselves leg-locked on some contentious issue (new tyres for the refuse lorry?), whereupon the chairman addressed the two representatives of the Fourth Estate sitting at the press table - the only members of the public present and neither of us Barnoldswick ratepayers - and asked: “Well, what do you lads think?’’ When upon we added our own small contribution to the debate, in words which were not reported in the following Friday’s papers!

I recall being with Jack on a memorable Saturday morning, September 25, 1965, when, with permission from Bob Lemon, the Earby stationmaster, we shared the footplate of the last passenger train to Barnoldswick, that being one of my final West Craven reporting duties.

And if memory serves, was not Jack in the Earby station signal box on the night of January 31, 1970, as the final scheduled passenger train from Skipton to Colne was signalled through? There was a rumour that it was he who actually operated the block telegraph instrument on that occasion. If true, it would be typical of him.

My career eventually took me away from day-to-day reporting and into sub-editing, administration and training, and we met professionally less often.

But between 1959 an 1982, when my family home was at Sough, only yards from the home of Jack and Jean, there were frequent opportunities to chat, to discuss the state of the nation and current trends in the world of weekly newspapers. We were both of a generation which witnessed massive changes in the technology of newspaper production, and if Jack did not find it easy to be at one with them - well, I can sympathise.

Friendly rivalry there was between Jack and those working for the Nelson-base newspaper titles, but Jack Heald ensured there was never animosity at a personal level. He was a gentleman of the press in the truest sense of the word, and it is no mere cliche to say that he will be missed.

Happy memories, Jack, and rest in peace.

Roger Siddall Walton Lane Nelson Beach is so vibrant Sir - How vibrant the town centre is with the Barlick Beach.

All those happy children who will no doubt only suffer the trauma of being accidentally hit over the head with a plastic bucket or sand getting into their butties.

As I walked home reflecting on this I heard the sound of ducks, quack, quack, the noise rising in more strident tones.

Wow, the town council was really pushing the boat out, ducks with attitude.

My overactive mind went into overdrive, until I looked behind to see a person reaching for a small seashell into which she started to shout.

Quackers! But then she had to speak in a loud voice because of the crashing of the waves on the beach!

Stewart Lewis Esp Lane Barnoldswick Path work thanks Sir - Just a short note to thank North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC).

On July 25 I emailed NYCC regarding the state of a public footpath between the Snaygill Industrial Estate, adjacent to the Copper Dragon Brewery, and Carleton Road.

It was totally overgrown and impassible.

I did get a reply, thanking me for bringing it to their attention and they would attend to it when they had the resources to attend to it. That’s that, I thought.

However, on August 1 I received an email from Mike Gurney, NYCC area ranger, informing me it had been cleared.

Well done and thank you to Mike and NYCC. Top marks. We just need the good people of Skipton to use it and hopefully prevent it from getting in that state again.

John Reid Harper Grove Sutton-in-Craven Unforgettable event Sir - I write to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to all those who worked so hard in Gargrave to make the services of commemoration of the beginning of the First World War truly memorable events.

The level of organisation, depth of research and participation of so many, (with a congregation consisting of at least four generations coming together), made the evening’s events unforgettable.

If only it really had been the war to end all wars...

Janet Sturgess Eshton Road Gargrave