WINNING LETTER
IT’S hard to imagine something of this magnitude rolling out with such precision. Yet the world watched all the pomp and ceremony – and military planning – that saw Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral going exactly to plan.
YOU deputy editor Nicola Whitfield was in the heart of it all to get on-the-ground coverage for our readers. “When Charlene asked me to go to London to cover the queen’s funeral and the days leading up to it, I jumped at the chance,” Nicola writes from London.
“What an incredible opportunity to be there to witness history in the making and share in the sorrow of the queen’s death and the celebration of her life.
“I stood in the queue for nearly eight hours to see her lying in state, I saw the procession of her coffin from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall and I stood in the crush of the crowd to see the funeral procession. I also met many, many people united by a common purpose: to pay their respects to the woman who has been a constant backdrop to their lives.
“Memories to last a lifetime.”
LET’S LEARN FROM LEE
The shocking story of The Bachelor SA’s Lee Thompson (YOU, 25 August) should serve as a great lesson to everyone, especially celebrities.
It’s shocking to read about a former professional rugby player and model living on the streets. Why didn’t he learn from the former professional soccer players who had it all but blew it and ended up poor and broke?
As ordinary people we should also learn from Lee Thompson’s story so that we don’t end up like him. NELSON KHUMALO, TEMBISA
FAMILY HEIRLOOMS
As times are changing and our young families downsize or emigrate I often ponder what will happen to the lovely things we “oldies” have kept and treasured from generations before and would love to hand down. Some children are interested, others are not. So be it.
I have the privilege to have stinkwood furniture my father bought when I was six. I am now 76. It is still in immaculate condition and so precious. We have a roll-top desk that goes back a long time.
We have a double bed made by Edblo and a little brass plaque on the frame says “No 74 of 1927”. It’s still used in our home and was my husband’s parents’ bed. That bed got lugged up and down the Lesotho mountains when he worked there and came to Eswatini in 1943.
I have porcelain cups and saucers my in-laws used for 45 years and a heavy solid metal book press so ancient I cannot imagine how old it is.
Sadly some families have no dependants to pass things on to and they’re sceptical of leaving them to a museum. Things are so uncertain. GOGO, ESWATINI
UNIFORMS ARE IMPORTANT
Recently I listened to a discussion on the radio regarding school uniforms, then I came upon an article in your magazine on bullying (YOU, 28 July).
I believe schools should never do away with uniforms. I was very underprivileged so having a uniform never made me feel scared to go to school because we all had the same clothes on.
On casual Friday it’s all about whose clothes and sneakers are more expensive. It’s there where the bullying also starts because now people know your way of living. And that is what breaks some kids’ spirits: when mommy can’t afford the brand name gear. NEVADA, EMAIL