Thank you very much for your interview with Dame Vera Lynn. I grew up with her music, and it holds special and fond memories for me. It is also very good to see her putting her fame to such good use through her charity work. Many of the celebrities of today could learn something valuable from her.
James Brooker, Nottingham
Talent Spotting
Can you please explain what is going on with your poetry competition? Obviously one’s appreciation of poetry is a subjective matter, but I feel that several of the poems I have sent in have been much better than the ones you have printed. I hate to question your credentials, but if you are looking for a new poetry editor then please, feel free to get in touch.
Dan Moody, Spixworth, Norfolk
Transporting Rubbish!
I have a question for the writer of your Question and Answer section. Did Bob Crow answer their questions during one of the many recent Tube strikes? I mean no offence to your publication, but at least now I know what Bob Crow wastes his time doing while I am often left without transport and unable to go to work, or get paid, as a direct result of a Tube strike.
Ian Cottrell, Essex
Plane Sensible
I completely agree with the aims of the organisation Plane Stupid. We should fly less, but not necessarily to help the
environment. In my opinion, flying less would save more human lives. You only have to watch the news to know how
many tragic plane crashes there have been in recent months. I think this is an appropriate time to remember the many
lives that would have been saved if less people had been on board the planes on September 11th, 2001. Less flights mean less opportunities for terrorists to strike.
Gina Peters, London
Spicing Up My Laughs
Thank you for introducing me to Dr Amit Rajp’s book, My Name Is Baljit But You Can Call Me Gary: The Alternative
Guide To Indian Culture. It brought back fond childhood memories of lunch taken to school in my mother’s Tupperware
collection. Your ‘author introduction’ column has now provided me with several quality reads. Keep it up.
Iram Sharif, Luton
Power to the Media
I must agree with Iain McWhirter when he says that the media has never been more powerful than it is today. Unfortunately, however, it seems that the media does not know its own power, or at least that celebrities do not realise how much power they hold over the public, particularly young people. But they are role models, and they should be encouraged to set positive examples for the public. That is one way in which a real positive change can be made to society today!
Jamilla Seer, Taunton
Unsteady Transition?
I was pleased to see last month’s cover story on Transition Towns, although I felt you didn’t really cover the whole breadth of what they are doing. Whilst it is good to see that the movement is getting more coverage, the implication that
they are the only ones doing this seems a little far fetched. There are hundreds of established community allotments
around the country. Next to this, the author’s implication that the only people capable of volunteering are “white,
middle class, educated and of a ‘green persuasion’” is a bit essentialist for my liking. Your publication is usually a little
less exclusive in its reporting.
Dan Murphy, Co. Cork
