ONE day Rod Hills was the leader of the council, the next an outcast, removed from his post, suspended from his job and shunned by members of the political party he had served for many years.

From the moment of Rod's arrest he vowed to clear his name. This he did when all charges, except a petty motoring offence, were thrown out of court.

To add insult to injury the police decided to re-open and investigate the death of his wife and again, nothing was untoward.

This was like kicking a person down on his luck.

Only last week he turned down the honour of being made an alderman of the city. Is there any doubt why he turned it down? Talk about a wrong making a right!

So the final chapter is upon us and I hope the people and organisations who failed Rod Hills at his time of need don't suddenly start pontificating about how good he was. Posthumous praise will fall on deaf ears.

Paul Willey,

Burnholme Drive,

Heworth, York.

...LOCAL families who had a child with special needs at the time when York was run from Northallerton will remember the dismissive response which the county council originally made to our request for further education for young people with severe learning difficulties.

At that time Rod Hills and the Labour group had the vision to ensure the support of York's District Council at a stage in our campaign when encouragement was most needed.

Actions such as this are not forgotten.

Viv Wellburn,

Milner Street,

Acomb, York.

Updated: 10:47 Friday, August 01, 2003