Letters: Alan Bines remembered fondly; early Christmas; cyclists

RSA museum curator Alan Bines pictured in 2015. Photo / File

It is with sadness that I learned of the passing of Alan Bines. I met Alan many years ago after an Anzac service at the RSA. Although Alan was a navy man, my interest in research was about the army; researching two great uncles who never made it home from WWI.

Alan was only too happy to point me in the right direction. He was dedicated as the curator of the RSA museum and also organised Poppy Day. He encouraged me to become a volunteer to sell poppies, which I did - along with three of my friends.

Such a lot of fun and banter we shared with Rotorua folk, and visitors on Poppy Day. At that time I never gave it much thought about the pins in the poppies. I was to learn that every year Alan and his wife, Joyce, spent many hours putting the pins in thousands of poppies.

Hoping to repay him for his many kindness, I took up the challenge to be a poppy pinner and, after a couple of years, I managed to persuade several of my friends to take a box each.

For many years Alan also designed the covers on the Anzac service memorial programmes; very poignant scenes graced the covers, and with the Roll Of Honour naming those who were killed in action, what a treasure for the families.

A very kind and generous man with his time; thank you Alan.
Pauleen Wilkinson
Rotorua

Early Christmas

On September 21 Bunnings started the Christmas sales push with decorations and lures for children. I find that really depressing. Why can't Christmas wait until December where it belongs?
Richard Kean
Ngongotahā

Cyclists

In response to Clive Phillips' letter about cyclists being on the road (Rotorua Daily Post, September 20), sadly there are too many people who that the road is for cars only.

There are many reasons why a cyclist may choose to ride on the road rather than use a shared path. For example, if a cyclist rides at 30km/h, isn't it safer for everyone if they ride on the road rather than on a path shared with pedestrians?

In my opinion, conflict and aggression between motorists and cyclists is exceptionally high. Rotorua has wide roads and a low volume of traffic, so are cyclists riding on the road really causing some motorists a problem? I suspect it's not causing motorists an issue at all, other than the fact they just don't like seeing anyone else using "their road".

The council has done a great job providing safe cycle routes around the city. Cycleways are most beneficial to vulnerable cyclists who would rather not ride a bike at all than ride on the road.

It's a shame that those who choose to use the road instead face such resentment from a small number of small-minded motorists.
[Abridged]
Rob Whitton
Kawaha Point