DEAR editor – Congratulations, Stephanie Preece, on becoming the new editor of Worcester News in addition to your role as editor for Newsquest’s Stourbridge Division.

It is really great to see how your career has flourished since you began as a trainee reporter on the paper in 1996. I wish you every success in your new role.

Please could you take this opportunity to do away with the outdated practice of including the word ‘Sir’ at the beginning of every letter printed in the paper?

This practice implies that the editor must always be male, which is both irritating and clearly false. It is a ridiculous and offensive tradition. Besides, the gender of the editor is totally immaterial. Many newspapers, both national and local, have dropped this practice.

I look forward to reading this letter in the Worcester News without ‘Sir’ at the beginning.

Marjory Bisset

Worcester