Sir - GOOD luck to Lisa Evans. May she and others continue to enjoy the swimming in Gullet Quarry.
The place provides free pleasure and enjoyment to many people on a summer’s day.
Let those who want to swim and sunbathe, even jump off the rocks!
I would do so myself if I had the courage.
I learned to swim in the River Severn 70 years ago. It was great fun.
Yes, there have been two drownings in the past, but those unlucky people had been drinking.
Better to tackle the drinking culture, not close the swimming pool. Thousands die on the roads every year, but we don’t close the roads.
Let people take responsibility for themselves and assess the risks. What next? Ban swimming in the sea?
MICHAEL PERRIN
Tewkesbury

Is Richard Branson on another planet?
SIR – Once again, John Petley of the Campaign for Independent Britain writes most interestingly about a despatch from Athens. He says there is no shortage of media coverage over Greece’s financial crisis.
Last October Robert Oulds of the Bruges Group delivered a presentation entitled “Independence from the EU and into the wider world” at the CBI’s last meeting at Chelwood House, Somerset. Robert explained how we could exit seamlessly from the EU by invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and renegotiating to rejoin EFTA.
Sir Richard Branson, well known for his enthusiastic support for UK’s membership of EU said on the Andrew Marr show that he was “not particularly happy that we are out of the single currency and if we were part of the euro now our currency would be a lot cheaper. He again proved the point that for business the only real issue is over our EU membership. He also revealed his ignorance of the flawed nature of the single currency.
Prof Tim Congdon highlights the vulnerability of European monetary union. He wrote recently that Branson and his ilk are blind to its flaws. Indeed his blindness to the nature of the whole European project is staggering. Branson also said: “If we go back to being Great Britain again we would have our hands tied behind our backs and Europe would rightly punish us and we’ll be back to where we were 50 years ago”. Branson clearly has no concept of the EEA/EFTA exit route, the so-called “Norway Option” which far from tying our hands would benefit trade.
Finally Branson repeated a really basic howler in claiming that the EU had helped preserve relative peace in Europe; what has it done to assist Ukraine? In many ways it has fermented the conflict. What about Serbia? Credit for 40 years of peace in Europe goes to NATO not the EU. Branson should stick to being an entrepreneur. While his Virgin Galactic space programme is far from offering customers space travel, Prof Congdon is tempted to ask whether Branson with ideas so far removed from reality inhabits another planet if not a parallel universe?
WENDY HANDS
Upton-on-Severn

Charity  bike ride was  a great success
SIR – May I, on behalf of patients and trustees of Evesham Vale Cardiac Rehab, thank all those who took part and helped organise the recent inaugural Charity Bike Ride (to Honeybourne).
This event raised £252.
I hope that we can make this an annual event, as all who took part thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon.
A special thanks to Robin Walker and Colin Tether, who mapped out the route for cyclists.
I can assure donors that their contributions will greatly help to maintain this vital community-based facility, which gives the survivors of heart attacks and other cardiac conditions a greater chance of resuming a normal life in the first five years following diagnosis or procedure.
Hopefully, in the future, we can expand our service to help with associated conditions.
If you feel you can help in any way with fundraising or would like to be kept in touch with events, please email me at gerry.donnell@sky.com.
GERRY O’DONNELL
Chairman, Evesham Vale Cardiac Rehab

We should act in bounds of humanity PITY alone never saved a single life
Sir - It is not enough to look with compassion upon someone in desperate need, then cross the road and pass by on the other side, assuming others will come to assist.
Our celebration last week of the life of Sir Nicholas Winton reminded us that mere bounds of common humanity should be enough to compel us to act.
Rwanda and Srebrenica of recent memory are terrible reminders of what happens when we ignore suffering.
That is why we are acting to resettle a small number of Syrian refugee families in this area.
JULIAN D ROSKAMS
District Councillor
Malvern West

Everone’s view counts in a democracy
Sir - JULIAN Roskams’ view regarding Syrian refugees give the impression that no other views except theirs are relevant to this issue.
There needs to be a wide and democratic debate that includes, among other subjects, costs.
On cost, there is poverty, homelessness and at-risk people, including children in the UK and I would guess locally.
Mr Roskams needs to try and understand that in a democracy it is not just his view that counts.
BRIAN CHAMBERS
Malvern