Letter: There's still steel in Sheffield
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.I LIKED James Sherwood's article on Sheffield's Devonshire Quarter ("A new friend in the North", Real Life, 5 December) but I react like Pavlov's dog when people say Sheffield's industry is dead. It is not. More than two million tons of special steels have been made here this year, far more than at the height of the Second World War. Sheffield provides the steel that has to withstand extreme stress or conditions. The steel is used, for example, in jet engines and landing gear, North Sea oil platforms, medical instruments and surgical implants, and nuclear shields and waste containers.
Cutlery has been made here since AD1200.The bulk of British silverware is produced in Sheffield with an increasing amount of gold, silver and platinum jewellery. Up until September, two million pieces have been hallmarked this year, 700,000 of them in Sheffield's own assay office. In addition to tankards, goblets and flasks, Sheffield pewter is used in a growing number of works of art, for example Catherine Tutt's beautiful vases - designed in Eastbourne, made in Sheffield.
This is a bit of an obsession, but I wanted to set the record straight. In the wonderful world of steel and silver, there's absolutely no antagonism to London - or even Leeds. There is no real competition, although we may damn Solingen, Pittsburgh and Essen with faint praise.
DON ALEXANDER
Sheffield
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments