Letters: I don’t even know Fairytale of New York

A different hymn sheet

I wish James Partridge every success in his great mission to get people singing together, but could he not come up with some better music?

My memories of school assemblies (in the late 1950s and 1960s) don’t include any of those sentimental happy-clappy numbers mentioned in the article. We sang proper hymns by Charles Wesley and others of a like calibre – O Worship the King, All Glorious Above, Love Divine, Immortal, Invisible, All People that on Earth do Dwell, The Lord’s My Shepherd, occasionally my favourite, the seafarers’ hymn Eternal Father, Strong to Save, and many, many more!

For me, One More Step Along the World I Go just doesn’t cut it. If Mr Partridge can revive that kind of singing, I will gladly join in any chance I get, but I downright refuse to sing Little Donkey, and I don’t even know Fairytale of New York.

Hilary Graham, Berwickshire

The right angle

Thank you for including Rose George’s informative article about modern fishing in the Food Special. Her comments echo some made a few years ago by David Attenborough. 

The fact 71 out of 73 Marine Protected Areas in the UK allow bottom trawling – the most damaging form of fishing – is appalling and needs the light of publicity shone all over it. Stunningly short-sighted.

I used to be a casual angler off the south and east coasts in the 1960s and ’70s, but gave up in the ’90s as it wasn’t worth the bother. I’ll buy Rose’s book Every Last Fish when I see it locally. 

Tony Rowe, Suffolk

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Christmas is coming

The first signs of Christmas have arrived in Cornwall. In this image is the number of people on the council’s housing list. There are probably whole towns in the county which have a lower number of people living in them than that figure.

Despite everyone knowing about it, homelessness can be hidden; disability can be hidden. People don’t tend to say they have a disability or are homeless, the stigma attached can be huge and dividing. 

People will now be starting to look back on the year, and say how 2026 should be – highlighting homelessness and other issues the UK is facing. But will people actually take note of them and do something about it? I wish this time that people will not look the other way.

Remember the hardships and deprivation won’t just disappear by not engaging with the causes of them. And yes, there will be people out there without a Christmas present on Christmas morning and that includes in Cornwall, despite schemes such as shoe boxes.

Christopher

Baby talk

Reading Bird’s Words, he cites poverty as one of the main reasons he was not breastfed as a baby.

Poverty is not always to blame. I was a planned caesarean baby born in 1969. My mother wasn’t allowed to see me for five days after I was born – who knows what I was fed by the nurses? Breastfeeding wasn’t mentioned, and my mother didn’t ask.

Laura Townsend

Sad state 

I’m also saddened by the subscriber who writes that they mainly only read Big Issue in order to support the sellers. He misses, in my view, some of the best journalism around today; full of interesting and topical articles that tell truth to power with factual reporting and first-hand experience. 

My husband and I buy it in preference to the often, mainstream offerings of mountains from molehills.

Carry on the great work Big Issue, and in particular (for me) Paul McNamee’s Editor’s Letter as well as the My Pitch contributors, to whom I take off my hat for their wisdom, kindness and grace in the most difficult circumstances.

Pam P

Reactions to John Bird’s article about customers not taking the magazine 

I get why people don’t because they think that’s an opportunity to sell it and make more money. I personally take it because it’s got a lot of good content.

@smngrn8, Instagram

The journalism is excellent; it is a really good read. So annoying if people don’t take it, the poor seller has to stand there for longer to clear his stock!

@Elaine.drake.560, Instagram

The magazine has wonderful articles in it, and I miss it now that I’ve moved back to NZ. I used to buy it at every opportunity when living in the UK. It was one of my favourite reads. Take the paper!!

@Pidipee, Instagram

I pay more than I need to, but always take the paper. I enjoy reading it, it’s got lots of good content ❤️🙌

@Welshjax, Instagram

Lots of schools and colleges teach Big Issue as an exam topic (I do at A level). I’m always asking people for copies they’ve bought, read and want to donate to my department for students to study. It’s a great way of recycling a great magazine, you get a good read, and it’s patronising to the vendor when you don’t take it after paying them (though I know people do this with the best intentions).

@jodiet1106, Instagram

Its one of the last print papers with good journalists and interesting articles!

@jen_highlandlass

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