Dear Editor,

THE proposed building of 250 houses to the south of the A38 is another threat to the identity of Wellington.

There is evidence of prehistoric occupation on the site which if the building goes ahead will be buried forever; we are unlikely to ever know what kind of people lived there. A similar occurrence happened with Jurston Fields where prehistoric remains were built over and the former town stream was filled in. Archaeological surveys are conducted but findings ignored. Might not these historical remains be in some way incorporated into new developments to give them more character and preserve a little of Wellington’s heritage?

The final decision over the Pegasus development is likely to be made by people who don’t live in Wellington and for whom financial reward is a motivating factor rather than preserving the character of this country town.

Amano Tracy

Wellington

Dear Editor,

HAVE our younger generation ever considered New Orleans traditional jazz?

Or have we younger readers who have never known the music of the ‘roaring twenties’?

Well that music is still with us. Music that can stand the test of time – good dancing music, if you wish to dance - is well worth your curiosity.

Yes, like some food is a required taste, so music you’ve never heard may, for some, need a little time and persistence before a real appreciation is felt.

So, may I suggest, try it out at Wivey Has Jazz, the second Wednesday in the month at Langford Budville Village Hall. Starts at 7.30 pm — and bring the girls — or girls, bring the boys. Live bands, always. And keep up-dated by checking in the Community News columns of this newspaper.

John Jarrett

Wellington

Completely undermining N.A.T.O.

Dear Editor,

I must thank the Free Press for recently publishing some of my letters in the Post Bag section and recognising the irony that the actions that are taking place in the Middle East.

Having being started not by a rogue leader of an African state, a dictator of an unstable South American country, a despotic leader of a communist regime or a country with undeclared nuclear weapons but a leader of a country always regarded as a bastion of democracy in the western world.

This country is also a member of N.A.T.O. An organisation formed to prevent aggression and keep world peace. Donald Trump is completely undermining N.A.T.O. And unless the organisation condemns the actions of the United States it will lose its credibility and be a failure just as the League of Nations did after being founded on the end of the First World War.

Andrew Brown, via email

Dear Editor,

Secondary schools in Somerset can fundraise to feed an entire school of hungry children by signing up for a charity’s life-changing Feed A School initiative.

Mary’s Meals provides meals to more than three-million children every school day in some of the world’s poorest communities across 16 countries. The promise of a nutritious meal at school attracts these children into the classroom, where they can gain an education that can be their ladder out of poverty. Yet millions of children still miss out on going to school due to hunger. 

Through Feed A School, secondary schools can ensure every pupil at a school in Malawi or Zambia receives a nutritious meal every day for a full school year. The initiative is a transformative way to give hundreds of vulnerable children hope for a better future. Providing healthy meals for a whole school has a huge impact not only on the children, but also on their families and the wider community.

Feeding an entire school for a year is more achievable than many realise – with Mary’s Meals, it costs just 10p a day to provide a child with a nutritious school meal. Whether schools choose to fundraise on their own, or join with others in the area, they will develop a real sense of connection to their chosen school and to the children they are helping, with updates from the feeding programme and a final report from the Malawian or Zambian school at the end of the year.

A school’s support can bring hope to more children like Sean, aged 12, from Mbayani Primary School in Malawi. Hunger is a daily struggle for Sean and his classmates, but with Mary’s Meals, they have a chance at a brighter future.

Schools that choose to fundraise won’t be doing it alone. Mary’s Meals will be there to support schools throughout their fundraising year – and each participating school will be joining others up and down the country who agree that in this world of plenty, no child should miss school because they are too hungry to learn.

Find out more at www.marysmeals.org.uk/feed-a-school

Mary’s Meals, via email