Letters – October 2017

Dear Editor,
I was born in Syston and spent my infancy in St Peter’s Street and in Broad Street. Sixty years ago Broad Street – at least in my memory – always smelled of privet blossom, dusty sunshine and dry leaves. In those days we children spent a great deal of time exploring Syston brook. It was not then fully fenced off and so was easily accessible for the catching of tadpoles, minnows, sticklebacks and the like. We used to scramble down the banks just by the Masonic Hall, occasionally cutting ourselves on tin cans and glass – but I don’t remember any real calamities.
Today the brook seems to attract a more exotic type of visitor. On Wednesday morning, 23rd August, I spotted what I am sure was a Snowy Egret fishing in the water, just below the Melton Road bridge. I have seen these beautiful birds in Egypt, dipping among the Nile lotuses, but never before in Syston; though I gather Egrets are now regular visitors to the UK.
Has anyone else seen the Egret, or for that matter any other unusual bird life, in or around the Syston brook?
Thanking you.
Yours sincerely
J. Craven
Queniborough

Dear Editor,
I read with interest your article in the September edition concerning the Syston Masonic Hall.
I have always considered this building to be a unique, interesting, and good-looking piece of architecture which contributes much to Syston’s heritage.
What a shame that it has to face such a disgraceful piece of wasteland in the heart of our town. It has been like this for far too long. To me it has long been the biggest eyesore in Syston. Who owns it, and why do our Borough and County Council councillors not bring pressure to have this land sorted? They cannot fail to have noticed it.
H. Midgley
Syston

The views and opinions expressed on our Letters page are those of the respective authors and do not reflect the opinion of the Syston Town News.