FOLLOWING an initial letter from a Mr Trevor Lester published in the BEN last month about trying to raise money from the Bolton business community, I wrote in full support of his views, only to be followed by a Mrs Pat Stubbs writing in total agreement too.

Shortly afterwards, an article appeared in the BEN in which Mr Andrew Dickson of St Andrews Travel was apparently "outraged" at such suggestions that, with the exception of Keoghs Solicitors, Fort James UK, Warburtons, Jacksons Van Hire and the excellent Rotary clubs, Bolton businesses were indeed extremely reluctant to provide financial support. May I now applaud a counterpart of mine who has added to the debate through your paper?

In the BEN (Saturday, September 9, page 7) Mr Rob Wilding, Head of Music at Canon Slade School, has "angrily slammed local companies for their lack of support" and stated that "not one company in the Bolton area has offered any financial support" for his choir tour.

I applaud Mr Wilding for saying it as so many of us continue to see it and much of what he said was almost word for word my earlier letter. May I thank also Mr M Taylor of Astley Bridge and the dozens of other people who wrote to me in full support following my letter and the subsequent article on this matter and if, as has been argued by Mr Dickson, Bolton businesses are indeed giving quite generously, where exactly is it going? I repeat my thanks to Keoghs, Fort James, Warburtons and Simon Jackson for supporting our World, National and BBC Champion bands at Smithills. Without you, we would not exist.

Chris Wormald

Head of Music,

Smithills School &

Bolton Sixth Form College,

Smithills Dean Road

Bolton