SIR – Councillor Alan Amos has really put the boot into the vast numbers of disgusting people who think it’s okay to cough and sneeze their guts out over other people, (Worcester News October 17). Well said sir.
I have nothing but contempt for those who cough and sneeze over everybody else, giving us all colds and flu. If you are on a bus it doesn’t matter where you sit, if somebody is coughing and sneezing you are likely to catch what they’ve got. In the 40’s people wouldn’t tolerate such behaviour. It’s disgusting!
Even worse are the till operators who perpetually lick their fingers to open bags, whilst serving you. Imagine the “millions” of viruses etc. till operators can daub onto what you are buying. Nowadays if I see a known “finger licker” on the till, I use the robot, but if you look at the scanners they too are usually covered with a film of disgusting crud, and I’ve no idea how often the terminals are wiped down with an antiseptic – probably never!
Our problem of coughing and sneezing over others, and licking fingers, has become normal behaviour. Well said and done Cllr Amos.
N TAYLOR
Worcester


New drugs bill is good news for patients 
SIR – On 6 November, MPs will have the chance to support an important piece of legislation that could benefit hundreds of thousands of patients across the UK. The Off-patent Drugs Bill would improve access to low cost, effective treatment for a range of conditions – from breast cancer to multiple sclerosis – and I would urge our local MP to support it.
The Bill would ensure that drugs that have fallen out of patent, but have since proved effective for clinical uses outside of their original licence, are routinely available on the NHS. With these drugs often being very-low cost, it makes economic as well as clinical sense for them to be more widely available.
Backed by the UK’s largest breast cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now, along with a host of other charities including Prostate Cancer UK, Alzhiemer’s Society and Bloodwise, the Bill needs 100 MPs to vote in favour to take it to the next stage. With just days left until the vote, more work needs to be done to secure the parliamentary support it needs to succeed.  
Time is running out, so as well as calling on our MP to back this Bill that would help hundreds of thousands of patients, I would ask others to join me and add their support to the campaign by visiting breastcancernow.org/unlockdrugs.
MARGARET PERRINS 
Droitwich 

Reminiscing about Faithful City friends
SIR – I am an old Worcestrian currently domiciled in Sarfend-on Sea, living on my own since my wife Shirley died three years ago. My two daughters are very attentive and I see a lot of them. I keep busy and help out at a charity shop. I also go to three or four “ old codgers “ clubs – sometimes I’m the youngest there! I do however have some time on my own. Washing, ironing, dusting, and gardening (man’s work is never done!). But I am not always on the go. I read, watch the dreaded box, and count people and cars going past my window. When I get tired of that my thoughts drift to the Faithful City.
I wonder how my old mates of the Arbo skittles and football teams are going on. I am in touch with Nobby and Pat and have recently met up with Geoff and Jane and Brian Court and Pat. It was great to meet up with old mates again. What amazes me is that most of the two teams must be in their 80s now. Considering the amount of booze we drank and, some of us, fags we used to smoke that’s some achievement. 
Geoff and I still have about a year to go, but I’ve still got all my hair haven’t I Geoffrey old buddy? I was saddened to hear about poor Nort. He was a great guy and he and I had a few laughs over the years, particularly one soggy afternoon at the Hawthorns.
My mind also wanders to my old WRGS mates. Dave Stait I know is in Canada, and there’s John Rickets, Geoff Morey, Brian Ruck, Mick and D’oswyn Passey, ‘Arrey Stubbs etc. I believe the old school is now mixed. Not in our days of course. No girls to flirt with then.
Then sometimes I think of my old ‘growing up ‘ mates. Nobby and Geoff I’ve already mentioned, and then there’s Norman Heywood, John Firkins, Lionel Reece, Davy Jones, Freddie Woods etc. Not forgetting John and Sid Howard. remember that “jazz at Jimmy Minton’s” evening we had playing Buck Clayton all night? I managed to get the LP a while ago and it still sounds as good. And I can’t forget brother Mike who died too soon. Last  but not least I think of the young ladies, not so young now I fear, with whom I was acquainted and wonder how they are going on. I am in touch with sister-in-law Jean, Margaret Lewis and Pat and Jane previously mentioned It would be nice to hear from any of you.
My e-mail is cbh070137@g-mail.com.
My mobile is 07929 782213.
COLIN HUGHES
Southend-on-Sea

Thanks for the kindness of strangers
SIR – I was unfortunate to fall in New Street, Ledbury, on Saturday, October 17. 
I would like to thank passers-by and friends who came to my aid. 
A young lady called the ambulance and people from shops looked after me with blankets and pillows. I recently had a cold and caught labarynthitis which caused me to lose balance and end up with seven stitches in my head.The care of doctors and nurses along with paramedics was fantastic and we are lucky to have our  NHS. 
It’s nice to know we have such a caring community so please pass on my thanks.
DAVE McHENDRY
Bosbury