AS a governor of Weatherhead High School Media Arts College I was delighted to see last Saturday's article about our pupils' Sir Bob Scott interview. 

The girls are doing a fantastic job with their media studies. 

We received all-party support when our leader councillor Steve Foulkes asked Wirral Council to support the Capital of Culture Bid. 

We always maintain that the best view of the magnificent Liverpool waterfront is from our side of the water. 

Take a stroll along our traffic-free promenade to New Brighton on a fine day.  The seascape is brilliant!  Pop into Vale Park, this year's winner of the national Green Flag Award, and stop for a snack in the cafe. 

Walk on to visit the unique Fort Perch Rock to look at the latest exhibition.  Then you have a choice of a bus or train back home again. 

As for the Fourth Grace - it's Wallasey Town Hall of course! 

Cllr Therese Irving(New Brighton Ward)

Wake-up call>

HOW many more times are we going to read about another child with meningitis being sent home by a doctor who diagnoses it as some kind of mild virus? 

We lost our daughter to it in 1977 and hadn't really heard of meningitis at the time.  These days everyone is warned about the symptoms, but doctors still fail to either spot it or take measures just in case. 

I appreciate that you cannot dole out antibotics like sweets, but if there is the slightest doubt, surely GP's and hospital doctors should take no chances? 

My sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Lee McDowell Doyle.  We know exactly how they feel and I hope they get some kind of justice from the medical profession. 

It will not bring their son back, but if it stops doctors making mistakes in the future then so be it. 

Alan Clay,Wallasey

Tiger feat>

THE photograph and statement concerning items displayed by Karen Bradbury, curator of HM Customs and Excise museum at the Albert Dock (ECHO, February 8) requires comment. 

The cache of "illegal oriental remedies" seized by HM Customs and Excise included Tiger Balm.  This is a mixture of menthol, camphor, petroleum jelly, and essential oils such as clove oil, cinnamon oil and peppermint oil. 

It contains no animal products and is not tested on animals.  Its name derives from the Aw Boon Haw family name, 'tiger' being the anglicised version of the name and also "the tiger's speed and strength to pounce on pain". 

Tiger Balm is included in the British National Formulary a joint publication of the British Medical Association and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, and millions of jars are bought annually. 

Tiger Balm is definitely not an "il-legal oriental remedy" as stated. 

Prof. Joseph Fenerty,Southport

Final thanks >

THE family of Margaret Reid (Maggie) would like to thank all the staff on the critical care unit at Fazakerly Hospital. 

The media is full of horror stories about the national health and the lack of care. These stories must be terrifying for our elderly and sick love ones.  Please, don't be afraid. 

When my Aunty Maggie was taken by to A&E on Friday, January 31, she received immediate attention from a team of staff. 

Through skill and care they managed to revive her; she was then transferred to the Critical Care Unit, were the care was continued. 

If we'd had private medical care she could not have been better looked after.  Every patient had their own special nurse. 

We were constantly kept up to date about her progress.  The staff's genuine kindness and caring nature brought many a smile to Maggie's face.  This was a great comfort to us. 

Sadly, Maggie died the following Friday.  But she died with dignity and with all her family around her.  She died knowing how much she was loved and cared for. 

Please don't be afraid.  There are people who care, but nice stories don't make headlines. 

Josie Clark,Walton

Great Jane >

WHAT pleasure do today's writers of film and TV scripts get from having actors and actresses mouth obscenities and indulge in sexual activities for our 'entertainment'? 

And why do actors and actresses blindly accept such scripts?  Don't they realise that their portrayals of foul-mouthed, sex-starved thugs, has helped to create all that is bad in the social atmosphere that prevails today? 

Which is why I take my hat off to the actress Jane Danson who is leaving her current employment because some 'in touch' writer wants her to indulge in lesbian activities for our (or is it his/her?)  entertainment. 

She should be supported by the silent majority and that includes the brave clergy.  Perhaps, with actions like this, society can get back to respecting itself. 

William Poland,Huyton

Rat's life >

THE exploding rat population in urban areas is not due solely to discarded fast food items.  One major cause is the large increase in pigeon breeding. 

Rats are attracted to the eggs, the chicks and the food.  Environment agencies appear to have little or no control over this problem. 

Glyn Morris,Maghull

Switched-off >

ONCE again the public pay to be told how good the BBC is.  The latest #4 increase is easy revenue at a stroke.  Where is free market competition? 

Come on, BBC.  Stop ripping the public off.  You have had your day, now it's time to move on. 

John J. Potter,L17

Dingle bells!  >

I WOULD like to thank the ECHO and its readers for the tremendous support they gave Shorefield's drama and myself after Su Burke wrote to the ECHO (Letters, Saturday, January 11) asking for some local knowledge about the Dingle of 1945. 

We were staging my production Florrie Daly, a play concerning the life and times of a family in Dingle just after WWII. 

The response was marvellous and shows how much people in Liverpool value the arts.  May I give special thanks to 'Bernie the Bus' and 'Tony' and the lady whose mother had the same name as the play and lived in the Dingle. 

Florrie Daly will be staged later this year with the highly talented Su Burke in the lead role.  Thank you once more for all your help and suggestions.