[LJFD]

I think those that are critising J Winterstone's opening remarks in her Times newspaper article should perhaps appreciate her 'aweful' childhood (read "Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit') - then you would understand why she escaped (from her mother more than anything). It's not easy being gay in Accrington (I can vouch for that); isn't she right not want to tolerate bigots and prejudice when it presents itself? It seems things didn't really change much - if you saw the South Bank Show with J Winterstone and Melvyn Bragg coming out of Accrington Library and STILL having abuse yelled in her direction from a van driver, it was all rather embarassing! Interesingly she lives around the corner from me now in Spitalfields (London) (I believe she has a house in the country too). We should be proud of an Accrington lady who has done really well for herself AND has probably produced one of the finest written and funniest books on the town (WELL worth a read).