Reader opinion: 'Flags should be celebrated, not criticised' - your letters, plus a knockout archive moment with Frank Bruno

​Let the flags fly high and proud

A recent correspondent disliked seeing our lovely flags all over the town. I love seeing them. They give a happy uplifting look to to our roads. Flags say 'look at us, we're here'. Let's enjoy our flags.

So what if they're nylon? What's wrong with that?

Major distraction and a road hazard? Really?

Plastic ties look a mess? That's grasping at straws.

Upsetting for those who find them reminiscent of a banana republic? It's not our flags doing that to the country.

Intimidated? I'm not the only one who feels intimidated, even offended, by the Pride Flag flying over council buildings without asking us, but no one's clamouring to remove them. Live and let live.

There are witness reports of many foreign people in the UK happily joining in, raising the flag. Sadly, the ones who try to stop them are middle class white people, offended on their behalf.

M Phillips, West Midlands

Values to be a town of culture

With snowshoes firmly attached, but alas no huskies, Uncle Norbert and I brave the deluge of recent snow to keep track on the wonders of the Great British countryside.

As we squelch through the wet snow we draw up the conditions that should be considered for the winner of the UK Town Of Culture.

There should be no pot holes in the roads and the pavements should be wide and even to walk on. There should be local independent shops run by local independent people, employing locals. There would be no tolerance of thefts by thieves from these shops. Do not call them "shoplifters" they are thieves and should be jumped on from a great height by the local constabulary.

Good manners when meeting others in the town and absolutely no litter.

That sounds like Great British values to us.

Peter Steggles, Rushbury

Airman search for memorial

After being hit by flak on July 27, 1944, Lancaster LM589 of 463 Squadron RAAF crashed in the village of Chaussy, France.

The two airmen, Donald Gundry and Vernon Scheldt, were killed. The five others, John Sincock, Edward Fallon, Nevin Davidson, Edward Burke, and Percy Oliver Wadsworth, were taken prisoner. Percy died in Walsall; we are looking for his family for a memorial service.

You can reach me at [email protected]

Feutry Bernard, France

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