Reader's Letters
We always like to hear from our readers, so if you would like to contact us please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or write to Readers Letters, Highwood House, Winters Lane, Redhill, Bristol BS40 5SH; or click here to go to the Contact Us form.
Fire Service budget cuts
- Friday, 24 May 2013
Dear sir,
We hear about proposed cuts in Government finance to the Fire service.
How do you put a money price on someones life? Because that is exactly what it is. Many people are getting on in years are not quite as mobile as they used to be and find it difficult getting out of a house on fire.
Thats when every second counts for the fire service to attend.
The advantages of being over 60
- Thursday, 23 May 2013
I have always enjoyed reading the Mature Times...very interesting articles that somehow reassure us older folk that what we experience in our dotage such as mysterious aches & pains are a not to be worried about on a general basis but that to seek help if otherwise..
Advantages can be numerous once we are over 60. Mainly we don’t really bother about what anyone thinks if we speak our minds... though not to insult is a must.
Funerals and cremations, a reply to Val Dobson
- Wednesday, 22 May 2013
I thank you for your response to my letter - Why are we so much in denial of our Christian beliefs?
The comment :- “So, if the cremations that Jimbo has attended appeared to be non-Christian, that is how the families wanted it.” prompts me to respond.
I accept without reservation that families should hold a funeral in the way they (or the deceased) want it. I also accept that crematoria are secular.
English speaking doctors - are there any left?
- Wednesday, 22 May 2013
My experience both with hospital and my local medical practice is that very few, if any, National Health doctors are able to communicate to us properly, in English. This must lead to mistakes being made especially amongst elderly patients.
Be positive - damaging words
- Wednesday, 22 May 2013
Such damage the words "be positive" can cause.
Telling people to be positive is a sweeping aside of and a denying of their deeply felt feelings of despair, hurt , pain etc.
Surely Shirley
- Tuesday, 21 May 2013
Dear Mr Young,
Your May edition is certainly a bumper one. We have 100 copies sent to us at Shirley Institute, which are soon taken by user group members. I am sure everyone enjoys the paper. On reading “ The Senior moment” page Malcolm & I have had a smile.
Regarding “The Big Issue” article, we are both in our seventies, long retired, and busier than when we were at work. Living in Shirley (West Midlands) for 47 years and Ann born here in 1940 we have a great affection for our village.
Travel insurance service
- Monday, 20 May 2013
We would like to reply to the letter entitled "Health or Age" from your reader T. Walters, Norfolk, regarding travel insurance.
Whilst we sympathise with the difficulties faced when trying to purchase an Annual travel insurance policy it is a shame that our company was not contacted. As you know this is our 15th year of advertising continuously in the Mature Times and we are proud to help your readers with their Annual and Single trip travel insurance needs.
We cover passengers up to 85 years of age for Annual travel insurance and we have no age limit on single trip cover.
Your readers seem to like the fact that their call will be answered by a real human and not a machine. We do not use overseas call centres and we offer a one to one, personal and friendly service, as some might say a good old-fashioned wrap it up in brown paper and string company.
So T. Walters can rest assured that 3 jumpers, a heavy jacket and rain protector is not required when dealing with our company.
Final Touch Travel Insurance, Leicester
Funerals and cremations
- Monday, 20 May 2013
As a non-Christian who has attended all sorts of funerals and cremations, I have to reply to Jimbo's letter.
First of all, crematoria are not religious but secular; they only provide the facilities. But they cater for all religious requirements and do indeed include a cross amongst their removable religious symbols.
Health or Age?
- Friday, 17 May 2013
ONE OF your younger seniors recently speculated on being a fossil at the age of 62 (April issue, page 14). I was lucky enough not to consider the issue until I was refused annual travel insurance at the age of 75.
For the previous 12 years, since retiring early, I had taken three or four overseas trips per year to a wide variety of countries under annual insurance. Every few years I checked my costs with half a dozen competitive insurers and if necessary changed companies.
