'Dad would've been angry at treatment to war veterans'

He also fought in the Second World War, alongside millions of other brave men and women.

He spent a large part of the war as a Japanese prisoner, returning home not knowing his mother, my grandmother, had passed away three years earlier.

I never heard my father criticise the Japanese or the Germans and it never bothered him if someone chose not to wear a poppy.

That’s what he fought for – the freedom to choose.

I’ve always worn a poppy, and that’s my choice, but my father would turn in his grave if he could see how this Government treats its ex-servicemen – 13,000 are reported homeless, soldiers suffering from PTSD are killing themselves, and disabled veterans having their benefits cut.

That’s what my father would have been angry about, and so should everyone in the country.

Ged Taylor

Address supplied

society

The age of the

self-obsessed

After almost a lifetime studying our species, I have come to the conclusion that it has been a failed experiment: nice try, God, but no cigar this time. I reached this conclusion the other day when a Dutch individual appeared amid the dreary wastes of daytime television and announced that, instead of persevering with his natural age of 69, he had decided his real age to be 49.

Leaving aside that his prime motive might have been to maximise his chances in his online dating quest, one can only say “Good luck with that one, mate” and hope he is offered counselling fairly soon. Seriously though, isn’t this just another symptom of our self-obsessed age? To consider that one can, by an effort of will, change one’s age, or gender, or anything apart from one’s mind or tie, is becoming a common delusion. I look forward to meeting the man who decided to be a dog/bird/hedgehog or whatever. A brave new world awaits us!

James Robson

Address supplied

BREXIT

Underdog May

‘Lord Snooty’ Rees Mogg, along with other arch Brexiteers, have unintentionally strengthened support for the Prime Minister.

Their ill-executed attempted coup, so far, has placed her in the role of underdog. A status many Britishers usually give support to, even when disagreeing with other aspects of a person’s opinions. Her stubbornness or resilience in sticking to her Brexit proposals has won her unexpected support.

Even though a majority from all sides regard them as a bad deal, they prefer it to a no deal, and just want an end to this referendum fiasco.

No matter the final result, she will surely take her place in history, as the Prime Minister who has had the most Ministerial resignations during her time in office.

Denis Lee

Ashton

BREXIT

If only this was all a bad dream

As I sit in bewilderment at the running of this country and the handling of Brexit, I have three things on my mind. Two of them are terms used in chess.

We appear to have reached a stalemate. The second term is Zugzwang, where a player is left in a more inferior position, whatever move they make.

The third unlikely scenario is that this has all been a bad dream, like the shower scene 30 years ago in TV’s Dallas when Pam Ewing awoke to find that her husband Bobby’s death had only been a dream and life returned to normal. If only!

John Appleyard

via email

fundraising

Charity card sale success

The annual Card Sale in Garstang, held on Saturday, November 11, raised £1,141 for the charities involved.

We thank the Garstang Mayor Leah Hynes, assisted by the Town Cryer Hilary McGrath, for opening the sale.

We also want to thank Margaret, Cathy and the cake makers for the refreshments and the URC for the free use of the hall.

They also gave the proceeds from the refreshments to the homeless in Lancaster.

Finally, we would like to thank the people of Garstang for their generous support.

John and Marie Whalley

via email