Time to get out begging bowl

Is the City of York Council really so hard up that the council has to sell off the Lord Mayor's car number plate ('Closures and fees in search for cuts', January 5)? Perhaps we should be sending them the shirts off our backs. Two letters on this subject. Simply first class

Can I congratulate the company of the St Petersburg Ballet for a truly outstanding performance of Swan Lake at the Grand Opera House. Letter from Colin Henson of Woodthorpe. Transport cash

It comes as something of a surprise to read David Bowe's (MEP) letter (December 22) in which he states that North Yorkshire County Council sent back £800,000 of government funding which had been allocated to improve the quality of the region's bus services. Letter from Anne MacIntosh, MP for the Vale of York. Reunion call

I am trying to arrange a reunion for former pupils of Mill Mount Grammar School for Girls. I attended the school from 1973 to 1980 and would be keen to hear from other girls who attended the school at the same time. Letter from Lynne Murphy (nee Friend). Bus is best

I Am not sure how the National Federation of Bus Users' figures quoted by Doug Begbie (Letters, January 5) have been worked out. A new car every seven years equates to a conservative £1,000 per annum and with road tax around £150, insurance £100, fuel for 10,000 miles £1,000, and servicing, parking and breakdown cover, say £150, totals £2,400 or 24p per mile. Letter from John H Meredith of Copmanthorpe.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.