King's Lynn Queen Elizabeth Hospital, electric vehicles, rail strikes, bees and library in Lynn News letters July 8

But on a more serious point, it is not just about pay but about conditions as well.

I wrote a letter to the Lynn News in 2011 in support of the late Bob Crow wanting to keep all ticket offices open and in a later letter in wanting guards on all trains.

The question is what if somebody has a heart attack or becomes ill on a train? I can see more strikes coming in the not-too-distant future with the cost of living crisis and a Government that has no answers and is full of fancy slogans but doesn’t deliver and is starting to behave like a dictatorship.

Paul Firmage,

Church Road, Downham

BEES

Swarm welcome

Re the swarm of bees that took refuge on the roof of the old post office in Baxter’s Plain, Lynn (Lynn News, June 25). I have just been sent this article by a friend. My husband Paul Lockley made the observation hive a few years ago. We are delighted to see it still going strong and being useful.

Jennie Lockley,

by email

EV

Pleased at charge points

I’m so pleased to hear my suggestions for EV charging points in Gaywood at the library and Fairstead Centre Point are going ahead.

When I was first elected last year I noticed a real gap on the map for charging points at these two key locations in Gaywood and I’m pleased my members fund is being used towards these projects.

Rob Colwell,

LibDem county councillor, Gaywood South

QEH

Thank you for the care

I’m at home getting my strength back after a malignant tumour I didn’t know I had was expertly removed along with a chunk of my colon and the ends rejoined, thanks to the different parts of the local NHS working seamlessly together.

In mid-February this year as a 70-plus-year-old patient of Wisbech North Brink Practice who felt fit and healthy, I was sent blood test forms as part of my annual review for blood pressure medication.

The test, by appointment at North Cambs Hospital, showed mild anaemia.

The GPs asked me for samples, which showed blood where it shouldn’t be, so they prescribed iron pills and gave me an appointment.

The nurse practitioner told me I may have benign polyps in my bowel or it could be cancer.

Days later a specialist at the colorectal clinic at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn referred me for a day surgery colonoscopy at the North Cambs Hospital, which followed swiftly, identified the tumour and took samples for biopsy.

Next up came a CAT scan at QEH.

The day after, one of the team of specialist colorectal nurses at QEH telephoned me at home and gave me a number I could ring whenever I had any worries.

She said the surgical team would be in touch after assessing biopsy and scan results.

She and her team are a godsend.

On April 26, at a diagnostic clinic appointment in QEH, a consultant surgeon told me my colon cancer was accessible for keyhole surgery which could be done within eight weeks.

Soon after, a pre-op assessment at King’s Lynn found me fit for an operation and talked me through the process.

I was told the op was on for June 1. Soon after, on Friday, May 13, I was disappointed though understanding when told my op would be postponed as two much more complex and

urgent cases must take priority.

My keyhole op (leaves three tiny cuts instead of a long central scar) happened after all on June 13, after which I spent two days with one-to-one nursing in critical care followed by four days on a ward, in which time physiotherapists got me walking and going up and down stairs.

I literally cannot fault my care at QEH, given by so many different people, with such a wide range of skills, showing at all times respect, professionalism, friendliness and humour, not just to me but to everyone I met on the wards.

And considering the massive pressure the NHS is still under due to staff shortages and several years’ backlog of cases, both resulting from the pandemic, (which hasn’t gone away yet) I find it little short of miraculous.

Thank you, NHS!

Julie Williams,

Wisbech

LIBRARY

Building must stay open

Norfolk County Council is not singing from the same hymn sheet. Director of libraries Ceri Summer says there is the publicly stated political intention is to retain the Carnegie library in Millfleet, Lynn, for community use but Helen Edwards, head of law, has checked with the legal and property departments and says County Hall has no agreement with the borough not to sell it off if they move the library out.

Norfolk says they will consult with community groups. But will the community groups have to find millions to buy the building or pay a full market rent?

This is what Norfolk’s asset policy is when a building is surplus to service needs.

Norfolk should give the Carnegie library back to West Norfolk Council if they move the library out.

Or set up a trust to keep the building as a heritage asset with permanent public access.

Better still, Norfolk should keep it as a library, as Lynn is growing and needs an additional library.

Norfolk claims respondents to the consultation said the Carnegie library has poor parking, but it has a free car park next to it and another free car park opposite on County Court Road.

The Carnegie library is a public building with better and wider ground floor access than the former Argos shop. Accessibility is harder when you place facilities on upper floors.

The Carnegie library is easily accessible via the Vancouver Centre, Tower Street and St James Street shops, so residents arriving at the bus station do not have to cross busy road to get to it.

As a key heritage asset building, it could fall into disrepair like the former Athenaeum opposite Argos, if vacated.

The Carnegie library needs to stay as a public building, open to all.

Alexandra Kemp,

Independent county councillor, Clenchwarton and Lynn South

MUSIC

Keep on rocking

David Fleming (Viewpoint, June 28) remembers those wonderful rock ‘n’ roll years when we, the youth of the mid-1950s, were condemned forever for listening to the devil’s own music. Tommy Steele, Cliff Richard, Elvis the Pelvis, Connie Francis; we played them on our Dansette turntables or fed the hungry jukebox in the local coffee bar while downing vast amounts of cappuccino.

In the early 1960s I was with the RAF in the Far East while Helen Shapiro was Walking Back To Happiness.

In the mid-1990s I saw her live when she was the vocalist with Humphrey Lyttelton’s jazz band.

That powerful voice was still there and ideal for belting out jazz numbers.

For the first time in my life I queued after the show for their two CDs, I was not disappointed, wonderful music. I’ve been a jazz and big band fan, as well ,all of my adult life.

From one old rocker to another, keep on rocking David. Many musicians from that era are still performing today.

It was far better music than the caterwauling that today passes as pop.

My rock ‘n’ roll CDs and tapes often get an airing on my music system.

Alan Mudge,

Pentney

TOWN FUND

I don’t trust this borough

West Norfolk Council were successful in making a bid for government funding to enhance the town, £25m!

Many projects were proposed but many have had to be abandoned because of the rapidly rising cost of building material.

Only two projects remain, the St George’s Guildhall and the ‘hub’ i.e. the area around the Majestic Cinema and the ex-Argos shop, soon to be the new town library.

Meanwhile, the Customs House is abandoned – no future planning there.

The Tourist Information Centre is in the completely wrong area of town, nowhere near transport facilities, etc.

The Red Mount Chapel is closed; the South Gate is closed.

Both these sites are considered heritage sites in an historic town.

The fountain in St James’ Park hasn’t worked for years. Fountains of all kinds work in towns and cities all over Britain, but ours does not.

The council are about to close the Andrew Carnegie library building with no forward plan of what to do with it.

Trust the present council to spend £25 million? I think not.

Edith Reeves,

Red Mount Chapel and South Gate volunteer, King’s Lynn