Remembering being a fall guy

CONTINUING to be delighted with your newspaper, being a country girl, one of Jo Foster’s recent Over the Stable Door columns reminded me of being the fall guy.

Having just started working, I would exercise my pony before I caught the bus. This certain morning I galloped from our farm on the A1 up Green Mile and over the canal. On returning, lots of men on bikes shouted and yelled they were going to build an army camp. My pony bolted!

I knew around the corner was the busy A1 bend. She knew her way. So I decided to fall off, kicking my feet out of the stirrups, hanging onto the reins. The saddle didn’t slip. I walked her home then had to walk her a while to cool off. Needless to say, after father chastised me, he had to transport me to the office.

Thrift vs waste

From: Brian Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

THE average family throws £60 worth of food away every month (Andrew Vine, Yorkshire Post, November 12). Waste is anathema to my wife and me, especially food. Our parents wouldn’t let us leave the table until our plates were clean. We never throw a scrap of food away. Far from being smug, I am almost ashamed: a socialist friend argues that thrift is very selfish: if everybody were like us, he argues, the economy would be in an even worse state. Who is right?

Police stress

From: Peter Hyde, Kendale View, Driffield, East Yorkshire.

WHEN I read of the number of hours lost by police officers going sick with stress, I am beginning to wonder at the quality of police officers being recruited these days. I served for 30 years and worked in cities and rural areas.

I dealt with many fatal accidents, some horrible cases of suicide, such as railway fatalities, and other stressful cases, including the usual Friday and Saturday night battles at a certain nightclub.

I was the subject of complaints and yes, I was stressed, but to take time off sick with it would have shown that I was not fit for the job.