The National Trust is wrong to make its historic house volunteers wear gay pride symbols

SIR – I read your report (August 4) about National Trust volunteers having to wear the gay pride symbol or be banished to back-room tasks.

The National Trust was quoted, calling itself “an organisation for everyone” that was “committed to equality” and insisting that volunteers were expected to uphold its values.

If it is proud of its values then the only symbol a volunteer should be required to wear is the National Trust symbol. Michael O’halloran

Birchington, Kent

SIR – The National Trust has asked volunteers at Felbrigg Hall, Norfolk, to wear a gay pride badge because the previous owner was purportedly homosexual. By that logic, can we expect volunteers at the Trust’s property, Bateman’s, in Sussex, to wear badges celebrating the British Empire because it was once Kipling’s home?

The National Trust should restrict itself to what it does so well – namely protecting and preserving our countryside and heritage. Clive Kent

Heathfield, East Sussex

SIR – You were right to highlight the clumsy handling of volunteers at Felbrigg and strong feelings aroused by the outing of its former owner,

R W Ketton-cremer (Leading article, August 4). But it’s unfair to accuse the National Trust of intolerance.

Its motto “For ever and for everyone” encapsulates a mission that goes back to its origins and underpins this year’s “Prejudice and Pride” theme. The 50th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality is worth celebrating in any open society. Stephen Johnson

Bexhill-on-sea, East Sussex

SIR – Like many heritage organisations, we have taken the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality to tell the story at a dozen or so of our properties of the people who lived there and whose personal lives were outside the social norms of their time.

At Felbrigg, the generosity of Robert Ketton-cremer in giving the house to the Trust was the result in part of the fact that he had never married and had no heirs to inherit. The film and exhibition about his life are sensitive, respectful and celebratory.

We believe deeply that our purpose is to make everyone feel welcome at our houses as our founders wanted. We are proud to take part in this national moment to mark the change in the law. Our Prejudice and Pride work is a research-based cultural programme helping us change the way we have looked at our places and the people who shaped them.

We have given volunteers a choice as to whether or not to get involved. At Felbrigg a small proportion of our 350 volunteers have not been comfortable with the programme. They are free to step back from the volunteer role, or take a different role for the duration.

The National Trust is a team of staff and volunteers, and we believe that wearing a rainbow badge at Felbrigg is an important demonstration of that. Dame Helen Ghosh

Director-general, National Trust Swindon, Wiltshire

SIR – As a long-time member of the National Trust, I was horrified at volunteers being bullied to wear gay pride badges. It surprised me to hear the Trust’s head of volunteering saying that they expect volunteers to “uphold the values of the organisation”.

The National Trust is about protecting our heritage and the special places we love, not about promoting a particular politically correct campaign. That is best left to the BBC. Harry Knowles

Ulverston, Cumbria

SIR – We have no children. We amended our wills to remove the RSPCA as a beneficiary due to the fox-hunting issue. We will now have to remove the National Trust as well. Peter Higham

Whittle-le-woods, Lancashire