Our freedom is the envy of the world — value it

pETEr HITCHEnS should be invited by House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to read to Mps his article that there is no such thing as human rights (Mail).

He could remind them that British democracy is the envy of the world and they have been elected by us to protect it.

Mr Hitchens clearly explained why we have so much freedom in this country. He knows its true value and is prepared to speak

up for it.

LINDA PEEL, Conwy. WHAT an astounding article by peter Hitchens. I was moved by the quote from Article 39 of Magna Carta, our charter of freedom.

D. HARVEY, Chippenham, Wilts.

Blight of polio

THE rise in polio cases is concerning. In 1951, I was a six-year-old in ruskington, Lincs, when polio broke out. There were nine cases in our village and 30 more near by.

I went to school with children in wheelchairs or with leg callipers

and sticks following treatment in iron lungs at Lincoln Hospital.

I am thankful for mass immuni - sation with such a simple, but powerful, little sugar lump.

SHEILA NEELY, Toton, Notts.

Wrong targets

WITH the recent rail strikes, trade unionists targeted the working class trying to get to work . The mega-rich, smirking in chauffeured limos and private jets, didn ’t suffer. Until the right people are targeted, inequality and unfairness will continue.

R. HAVENHAND, Nantwich, Cheshire. MEMBErS of the rMT say they’re not paid what they are worth. They should keep quiet about that.

B. JOHNSTON, Romford, Essex.

Knocked for six

THIS picture (inset above right) is of my son, William Eastwood, on his 11th birthday. His young friend

on the right, who was only five or

six at the time, is current England cricketing hero Jonny Bairstow ,

then a fellow pupil at our local village school, Marton- cumGrafton primary School, in north

Yorkshire. one day W illiam came

home looking a bit down. When I asked him what the matter was, he replied that he had bowled his prized new cricket ball to Jonny — who had promptly knocked it clean out of the playground and into an adjoining field, never to be seen again.

Even at such a young age, he could certainly hit a six!

GILLIAN WARD, Milby, N. Yorks.

Salute to police

MY HoUSE was burgled in broad daylight when I popped out for 40 minutes for a doctor’s appointment.

The 999 operator was fantastic and the police arrived four minutes later, complete with a

CSI van. The officers were professional and sympathetic. I was kept

fully informed at all stages of the investigation, right through to the sentencing of the career criminal.

A lot of stolen items were recovered but, sadly , none of mine. F ull marks to Great Yarmouth police.

JANE ROBERTS, Winterton-on-Sea, Norfolk.

Phone zombies

I AM amazed at the number of people I see crossing roads while transfixed by their phones.

We need a Tv advert advising pedestrians on how to stay safe. The message should be: ‘When about to cross the road, stop, get your face out of your phone, look right, left and right again, and only cross if it’s safe to do so.’

This might just save the life of a mobile-phone zombie.

S. LEWIS, Newport, Gwent.

Isle of white

I HAD to laugh at Gary Lineker’s claim that he suffered racist abuse

as a child. He should have tried growing up on the Isle of Wight in the 1960s, where every face was white except for mine and a bus driver’s.

I was treated with contempt by my teachers, not invited to birth - day parties and overheard parents

at the school gate telling their children not to play with me.

Gary should realise some children really suffered from racism. Thank goodness times have changed.

LEE McGRATH, Uxbridge, Middx.

Tennis tantrums

IT’S great Wimbledon is back, but the women players screaming and grunting with every shot is a right turn-off. If I mute the Tv, I lose the atmosphere and commentary .

While players put great effort into every shot, surely they could tone down the sound effects.

LINDA VERRALL, Meopham, Kent.

Outspoken umpire

WHAT a marvellous article by Mike Dickson about the retire - ment of W imbledon umpire Graham Liddle after 50 years.

I could have been responsible for him not reaching this landmark. In my first year of reporting at the tournament, I interviewed him in 1983 for the Evening Standard newspaper.

I feared his sharp comments about John McEnroe and Ilie

nastase had got him banned from the chair and the lines by the AllEngland Club. In fact, they just didn’t offer him any matches until the next year.

Yet he never took me to task for ‘stitching him up’ and told me: ‘I just hope what I said made some people realise they are not bigger than the sport.’

BILL PIERCE, Piddinghoe, E. Sussex.

Star car

I’M noT surprised that tennis star Emma raducanu favours a reasonably priced car (Mail).

I have driven upmarket cars but my seven-year-old Dacia Sandero Stepway is the most reliable, cheap, practical and comfortable one I have ever driven.

Tax, MoT and service cost £280 a year, insurance is reasonable and economy good. It ’s a pleasure to drive and not bad looking, either.

DIANN POLLOCK, Upton, Wirral.