Your letters: PM's suit, rewilding and a poignant 1945 RAF Cosford picture

PICTURE FROM THE PAST: RAF Cosford became a place of hope in the closing months of the Second World War, welcoming British prisoners of war home after years in captivity. Dated September 10, 1945, this poignant photograph shows airmen receiving special rehabilitation treatment as they recovered from the physical and emotional effects of imprisonment. Do you remember hearing stories of returning POWs or RAF Cosford's role in those historic days? | Express & Star archive

placeholder image — PICTURE FROM THE PAST: RAF Cosford became a place of hope in the closing months of the Second World War, welcoming British prisoners of war home after years in captivity. Dated September 10, 1945, this poignant photograph shows airmen receiving special rehabilitation treatment as they recovered from the physical and emotional effects of imprisonment. Do you remember hearing stories of returning POWs or RAF Cosford's role in those historic days? | Express & Star archive

From politics to the countryside, readers have their say on the issues making headlines

Whip round to buy PM a suit

Bambi Burnham appears to have thought he'd got on the plane for a round of golf (maybe to Scotland). Instead, wearing his smart Northern Lad casuals and polo shirt, he arrives in Ukraine.

Now, I'm not one of those stuffy blokes who insist that one should never leave the house without a suit and tie, and I guess over the past few decades, I could count on a couple of hands the number of times I've worn a suit. But then I'm not Bambi, the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Could the reason be simple? Burnham may have missed out on all the freebies the rest of his mates have enjoyed and can't afford a suit.

Should I organise a whip-round? Or I might pop to the charity shop and, given chest, waist and inside leg measurements, for about eight quid, I’ll get him a cracker.

Alan M Etheridge, Sedgley

Rewilding not always best

Roger Norton appears to have a chip on his shoulder regarding “sporting gentlemen”, maybe he should have some chips with his grouse and whinberry pie?

Seriously though, it is true to say that “muirburning” is the traditional way of controlling heather and gorse on miles of Scottish hillside, because as he says, it was to rejuvenate them for the wildlife to eat and nest in.

He doesn’t seem to like the idea of eating the grouse, but that isn’t a reason to stop the controlled burning, it clearly kept the wildfires at bay, so the principle is a good one.

The ‘scientific evidence’ which he supports is heavily influenced by groups with other agendas, like the RSPB who will do anything for birds, and the Wildlife Trusts and the Environment Agency who will do anything to re-wild the countryside by “natural” means. The recent devastating, uncontrollable wildfires should be a wake-up call to the re-wilders, that nature doesn’t always know what’s best. Listen to those who have the experience, is my suggestion.

R Allen, Midlands

We must deal with old trees

As one who has planted thousands of trees over the years, I agree with Mike Crump that shade trees are a good thing, but they must not pose a threat to life.

In recent times there have been many tragic instances of people being killed by large old trees, including a young boy playing in a public park, when one fell on him without warning. There are plenty of fast growing trees with slender trunks and a good spread of leaf that could replace those which are a danger.

W Kerswell, Picklescott

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