SIR - How times have changed! I refer to the affectionate article and editorial on Chicken George in Saturday's Worcester News and was instantly struck by the sharp contrast in attitude in the 18 years since I was a member of the editorial staff at Hylton Road.

I wrote a similarly warm-hearted double-page spread on the fiercely-proud old soldier, and no article I've written before or since has provoked such a howl of dissent or disagreement.

I had to mask George's identity in order to requisition a staff photographer, and when he arrived - the much-respected Peter Ainsley - I almost had to bribe him to stay and do the job.

In the days that followed publication, angry letters swirled like confetti. I was stopped in the street and asked dozens of times "how could you?"Even now, people tell me I got it wrong. I disagree - I spoke as I found. George's Warndon flat was nothing short of immaculate; he was smartly dressed in neat sports jacket complementing his Worcestershire Regiment tie, he didn't utter one single profanity in his three hours of fascinating chat, and he hadn't had a drink in several days.

Incidentally, George's verbatim quote in last Saturday's article was drawn direct from the profile I wrote and not, as you imply "in an interview with the Worcester News in 2002").

But what came over loud and strong was his undimmed pride in the city he was born, bred and always lived in - and above all, his beloved Worcestershire Regiment.

"Nobody - nobody - slags-off my ome town and gets away with it," he said, stiffening up, his eyes like a hardened pugilist. And as he recounted his service days, he almost stood to attention. I swear I even saw a tear in his eye.

Ask any journalist - it's not always what you say, it's the way that you say it that counts - and for all his wicked language, occasionally shocking behaviour and provocative antics, I doubt there's ever been a Worcester man so proudly enchanted with the Faithful City.

George was one of those commodities so rare nowadays - a character, and Worcester will be all the less colourful without him.

BOB BLANDFORD, Worcester.