ANNIE Neligan wrote last week that our MP should meet his responsibilities to voters under 35 and vote to leave the EU.
Nonsense, he should represent the majority who have voted to leave. Why have older people’s votes suddenly been so devalued, with the younger generation saying it is a vote for the future so the views of old people shouldn’t count? Any vote, be it referendum, general election or local election is a vote for the future, so are us older people going to have no say?
Come the next election, will people over 65 have to have a medical before they vote to see if they will last another five years, and if their health doesn’t look too good, are they to be denied a vote?
I voted leave to atone for voting to stay in Europe back in 1975, although then I voted for a Common Market not a loss of sovereignty and no say as to who makes the laws and rules that affect my everyday life. Still, I was a mere callow youth in those days and knew no better, but the years have educated me. Today’s younger generation are just me in 1975, but their time will come eventually.
PAUL MORLEY
Ribblesdale Estate, Long Preston

ONCE again, Gargrave open gardens (June 11) has shown people what is best about life in Gargrave. It was a true team effort, with the talents of gardeners, musicians, bakers, organisers, hosts, washers up, waiters and so many others combining to produce a feeling of a community pulling together.
Thank you to all who contributed towards this success, in particular the 20 gardeners who were willing to share their labours of love with the 352 paying guests.
We are grateful to all who shared their musical talents: we had Skipton Music Centre’s big band outside the village hall, the Fairfax Singers at Neville House, a choir and individual performers from Ermysted’s in the hall, and numerous performers on guitar, accordion, saxophone, bassoon, piano and voice in gardens throughout the village. Their contribution played a large part in creating a special atmosphere for the event, and many visitors commented how they were struck by the buzz around the village. Particular thanks also to Norma Brothers for her masterminding of the impressive village hall catering operation. And at Taira House Gardens, another team ran an additional afternoon tea venue, which was much appreciated by guests, who had reached the outermost part of their open gardens pilgrimage and welcomed some refreshment, and musical serenading, before heading back to the centre of the village. The event raised £2,861 for St Andrew’s Church, which will go towards supporting and improving the parish church and all it does for this and future generations in Gargrave.
BEATRICE AND DUNCAN FAULKNER on behalf of St Andrew’s Church, Gargrave

I WRITE as one of the swarm officers for a local beekeepers’ association after receiving numerous calls that turned out to be tree bumblebees, and not a honeybee swarm.
We understand that honeybees, with a sting and in great numbers, can be unnerving to the general public. It is in beekeepers’ interests to collect swarms, where we can (sadly, high up in trees and in air grates and other such places are not included). Tree bumblebees are no threat at all. The trouble is that they often set up a nest in vacant bird nest boxes, being just the right size.
They have been reported in a wide variety of other locations, including lofts and compost bins. Tree bumblebees have only been in the UK for ten years so are, perhaps – “new kids on the block”.
They are distinguished by having orange fronts, black middles and (sometimes small) white ends to the tail. They are industrious and excellent pollinators, so appear to be numerous. But in reality a colony is, at best, likely to consist of only a few hundred individuals. Compare this to a honeybee colony, where a modest one will contain 10,000 individuals and more.
Bumblebees are not aggressive and, left to their own devices, do not sting (but I do not recommend trying to trap one in a foxglove flower!). At the end of summer, the nest will be vacated and new queens disperse to go into hibernation (a honeybee colony remains numerous all winter and survives on stored honey).
Tree bumblebees are excellent for a wide range of pollination especially, in my experience, for edible berries. They are are to be encouraged. It would be helpful if your readers did some elementary identification before calling a beekeeper to remove a swarm.
PETER LONGBOTTOM
Wharfedale Beekeepers’ Association

I WAS absolutely thrilled to read your article – “Therapist uses video link to help prisoner” (Craven Herald, June 2) – which was about a prisoner whose life was transformed through a tele-medicine link.
As a stammerer, I feel the fact this prisoner, Mark, told his story conveys that people from all walks of life suffer from stammering. The speech problem affects one per cent of all adults worldwide and four per cent of children; it does not discriminate.
The essence of the article was how the incarcerated prisoner was able to utilise speech therapy via computer. This story deserves more coverage because it could help many other people who can only get speech therapy through a tele-medicine link. I would like to inform your readers that here in the US, there is a non-profit charitable organisation called the Stuttering Foundation (stammeringhelp.org) that has a website that provides many free resources, such as streaming videos, downloadable books and brochures and more. All that is needed is a computer to access these free resources.
I like reading articles on stammering from all over the world, and your article is definitely one of the most memorable I have read. I think the article foretells the future of speech therapy for many people.
LAURA PALMER
Houston, Texas

DO you live in Skipton district and would like to be part of a fantastic group of volunteers fundraising for Marie Curie, to help more people across the Craven area with a terminal illness get the care and support they deserve? The charity is on the lookout for a new secretary for the Skipton and District Fundraising Group, and would love to hear from anyone interested in finding out more information.
We know there are people living in the local communities across Craven who could give a few hours up every month to join other volunteers in fundraising for Marie Curie, and I would love to find them. With full support from me, they could join a really friendly fundraising group that meets every four to six weeks, and help with any ideas to raise the vital funds needed for Marie Curie’s services. The secretary role also requires them to take minutes in meetings and distribute to members.
Anyone who is interested in finding out more can contact Sharon Link on 01274 386190 or email Sharon.link@mariecurie.org.uk for more details.
SHARON LINK
Community fundraiser
Bradford Marie Curie Hospice
Maudsley Street, Bradford