I refer to the recent letter written by Mrs M Pushman (Postbag, June 29) and others of support which followed. These letters seemed to me to express a regrettable attitude, particularly towards Europe, though I sympathise to some degree with Mrs Pushman where, in some areas, she perceives personal integrity to have been lost.

Does anyone imagine that the French, Germans, Italians or any other nation would wish to give up their sovereignty or national identity? Of course not, but they do share a vision of a better future for Europe.

The bureaucracy of Brussels is something that has to be reformed and improved with the full participation and consent of member states. The experience and wisdom of Britain should be very much part of the process.

Reference was made in your correspondence to the sacrifice made by the people during the Second World War. More than 50 million people died at that time and the physical and emotional wounds remain for many who survived. Behind that stark statistic lie the names and relationships of individual people and families, caught up in a conflict not of their making, from other nations as well as our own.

Our debt is, of course, to those who fought in the defence of freedom. I believe our tribute should be enshrined in the vision of an economic and cultural family of nations within which our national identity, individuality, pride and achievement flourishes.

In 1945, one of the most important victories in the history of man was achieved because a great evil had been defeated. The evils the free world had to fight then, as now, were racial hatred, exclusive nationalism and militarism. A reign of terror replaced the systems of law and justice at the hearts of Europe. The flouting of international law and human rights had to be defeated in the name of justice, liberty and human dignity.

Perhaps it is time to remember that democracy originated in Greece, that much of our law is Roman and that the idea of a welfare state came from Germany. In terms of social justice today, Europe is without question ahead of Britain and America.

A recent BBC Prom broadcast on Radio 3 included Elgar's First Symphony. Many in the orchestra were not familiar with Elgar's work before they began rehearsals, but were profoundly moved by the music of our most English of composers. Elgar, who was self-taught, took as his models, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Dvorak.

The orchestra in the Royal Albert Hall on Sunday was made up of 120 musicians from 15 nations all aged under 23 - The European Union Youth Orchestra. When asked by a friend what the Symphony meant, Elgar said: "It contains an experience of human life with great love and a massive hope for the future."

Anyone who was fortunate enough to hear that performance would realise that the young musicians from those 15 nations understood and agreed with Elgar's message completely. Does it really matter if you have your supper off a tray in front of the television, if, at the end of the day, you are able to sit at the table of life.

PETER SMITH, Artistic Director, Autumn in Malvern Festival, Worcester Road, Great Malvern.