Solving soldier mystery - on Remembrance Day

Touching tribute: the inscription inside the Bible reads: "To my friend Private Jones 53911 as a token for his great kindness to me while in Puchervillers Hospital on his day of evacuation, January 13, 1917 - Private Jim Todd, with best wishes."

A woman in Wales is searching for the family of a Hull soldier who served in WW1 - after buying his Bible in a charity shop.
As thousands of people across Hull observe two minutes' silence this month in memory of those who lost their lives in war, housewife Myfanwy Bowen will be continuing her search for the family of Private Jim Todd.
It was in a charity shop near her home in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, that she bought the Bible, which was issued to him while he served with the 10th (S) Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, also known as the "Hull Commercials."
Inside the front cover Mrs Bowen found a touching tribute, written by Private Todd when he gave the Bible away to his friend - a Private Jones.
As Remembrance Day approaches, Mrs Bowen (55) is now trying to trace the family of Private Todd, who she believes could still live in Hull - so that she can return the Bible.
She said: "It must have been the only thing which Private Todd had to give to Private Jones. It shows you how little these chaps had and brings home the hardship of war.
"I only paid 20p for the Bible - but really it could be priceless to his family or descendants."
Anyone with information about Private Todd or his family can contact Mrs Bowen through Hull in print on 300300.

Super League showdown

This month's front cover stars are Courtney Browne and Adam Cable, both age 13, of Winifred Holtby School Technology College, Bransholme. Don't miss the centre pages for more rugby league.

Making light of words

An exciting new electronic display which could help unite deaf and mainstream children has been unveiled at Hull Children's Library.
The display, called "Making light of words," is made up of 27 interactive light panels, each of which represents a letter of the alphabet which is "finger-spelt" in British sign language. The panels can be controlled by library visitors.
"It's an opportunity to introduce the basics of sign language to mainstream children who use the library," said creative practitioner Sarah Daniels.
Installed as part of the refurbishment of Hull Central Library, the display also formed part of the Illuminate arts and cultural festival which took place across Yorkshire.

Boost for "green" school travel

More than £100,000 will be shared between 17 schools in Hull to help them to encourage pupils to explore greener, safer and healthier routes to school other than the car.
The schools will encourage pupils, parents and staff to walk, carshare, cycle, or use public transport to and from school.
The money will be used to build increased cycle storage, scooter and skateboard storage, as well as lockers and changing areas.
Some schools will be developing "walking bus" schemes, which provide safe and supervised walking routes for parents and children.
A survey in Hull last year found that a quarter of children are driven to school, which leads to increased congestion on the roads.
The money is being awarded by the government to Hull City Council's School Travel Strategy.

Trail is top project

Mother-of-two Janine Turner uses the Trans-Pennine trail to cycle to work between Hull and Hessle every day

A popular Hull cycle route which is used by hundreds of commuters every day has received a top national award The Trans-Pennine Trail was one of four lottery-funded projects in Britain to receive a prestigious National Lottery Award 2006 - in recognition of "the real difference it has made to communities."
Thousands of people voted for the trail, also used by walkers, which runs from Hornsea on the east coast to Southport on the west coast - and on the way passes through east and north Hull before stretching out to Hessle in the west.
The trail forms part of Hull's 70 miles of cycle routes in the city, and every day is used by more than 600 people who commute to work by cycle.

On a roll

More than 55,000 households across Hull have been visited by council officials to ensure residents are registered to vote.
The visits were part of work to update the electoral register - and make sure people who are eligible to vote can do so at the next local, general, and European elections.
Sandra Holder, elections officer for Hull City Council, said officials visited any households which hadn't responded to an earlier postal survey.
The updated register can be viewed in Hull Central Library from December 1.
To make sure your name is on the register. call 300300.

Service on right footing

The important role played by Hull City Council's eight customer service centres (CSCs) in the lives of thousands of residents has been celebrated in National Customer Service Week.
The week involved a range of events, activities and exhibitions at the CSCs, including children's ballroom dancing (pictured above) at the Ings CSC.
By visiting CSCs, residents can access more than 100 different council services, from waste management and street cleaning services to parks and gardens, and highways services.
Cllr Dave McCobb, responsible for customer service, said: "While people can still call the council on 300300, we believe that face-to-face contact is very important."
Meanwhile, 76 members of the council's CSC staff have been awarded NVQ Level Two qualifications in Customer Service, after studying with Selby College. For full list of CSC addresses see ad on page 2.

Wanted - mystery shoppers

Could you act as a Ômystery shopper' and help make sure that Hull City Council staff are giving their customers a fair and equal service?
The task involves going Ôundercover' when visiting housing estate offices, customer service centres and phoning the council's call centre.
The current group of mystery shopper volunteers are particularly keen to recruit young people and people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.
For more information, contact the tenant participation team on 300300 or email: tenant.resident@hullcc.gov.uk

Raising the temperature

Cheers: Margaret Singleton enjoys a brew with Alex Rhodes and Kristian Pearson, of Classical Gas, after the installation of her central heating system

Pensioner Margaret Singleton, from Clumber Street, will be warmer at home this winter after her boiler and radiators were fitted for less than half the market price through the Discounted Heating Project.
Mrs Singleton was the 100th person in Hull to benefit from the project, which installs cut-price central heating for home owners and accredited private landlords.
It's run by Hull City Council in partnership with local companies Caradon Ideal, Jewson Builders' Merchants, and Classical Gas.

For more information, call 300300.

Hull's boost from Europe

A new DVD and brochure has been launched which outlines all the community projects in Hull which have benefited from European funding since 2000.
Almost £30 million has helped fund projects such as the brand-new Community House building, at the corner of Newland Avenue and Cottingham Road (pictured).
Other projects include Hull's Community Wardens, The Octagon Centre on Walker Street and the new Horticultural Centre on Preston Road, among many others.
The delivery of projects has been overseen by the city's eight PACT boards, which are made up of local residents and council area committee members.

For more information, or to obtain a copy of the DVD and a brochure, contact Hull City Council's European Team on 300300.