IT’S fair to say our online readership were not in agreement with the letter from Joe Amos in which he objected to people sitting on the war memorial outside Worcester Cathedral as if it were a park bench showing and “overt and blatant lack of respect for our war dead”.

Criscross responded: “What a lot of jingoistic hot air. Many of us are descended from people who served in the First or Second World Wars and in more recent conflicts.

“It isn’t disrespectful that people eat, talk and enjoy life in this place, just as our Fallen would have done if they’d been here.

“My grandad would probably have made a rollie, sat down and smoked it on those steps, grateful for a moment to rest.

“Fake outrage personified. If you genuinely are so worried about where people are eating their lunches, fundraise for a bench or two.”

LibraGirl001 posted: “Sad that this gentleman thinks that people sitting on the steps of the memorial is sacrilegious. That claim is akin to saying that they are profaning the sacred.

“It is always possible that some people who sit there are taking time to reflect on those to whom the memorial is dedicated.

“Indeed, some might even be thinking of their own past relatives lost in the conflicts.

“Not everyone is a hooligan, or disrespectful, and the closeness of the cathedral will confer additional peace of mind to those in contemplation.”

Mairead7292 added: “Well said. It seems poignant that this memorial is integrated into our local life. And if someone stops to reflect on its meaning, then so much the better.”

Acta Non Verba posted: “I’ll remember Joe’s comments the next time I’m sat on a memorial bench enjoying the view before eating my sarnies and then wrapping myself in a Union Jack and singing Land of Hope & Glory to demonstrate what a spiffingly good patriot I am.”

Joecal said: “I myself have sat on that memorial. Eating my lunch. Thinking of the chaps that this memorial represents.

“I have also sat on the floor at memorials in Poland and France.

“I have sat, contemplating at the graves of my loved ones.

“A memorial is a place to sit. Think. Remember. Relax, feel the grounding you feel in the presence of great people...

“I would rather my grand kids have a picnic on my grave and a game of rounders! Than sit and weep.”

Fig Bat Hob Nead added: “Surely if this was never built to be stood or sat on it would have been built sloped like a pyramid?

“I’d understand if it were being used by skateboarders or wino’s but its not.

“For all you know those people could be descendants of loved ones lost in the war. Perhaps commemorating that person’s birthday or something.

“The polite notice you mention should read ‘Please take a moment to sit on our memorial and reflect on those that lost their lives fighting for our country’.”

liketoknow agreed: “Surely that’s what these memorials are for. For people to sit and remember the sacrifice made for the freedom to sit on those steps.

“Otherwise it just becomes a one day a year monument to all those who lost their lives. It’s a fantastic use for it.”

liatris posted: “Delighted to see so many comments supporting the integration of the war memorial into people’s daily lives!

“I have fond memories from my childhood in Oxfordshire 60 years ago of old folk stopping for “a bit of a sit” and a quick smoke on the steps of our local war memorial – and these were people whose brothers, fathers and so on were commemorated on it!”

Coenwulf concluded: “Turning these monuments into some kind of sterile necropolis is only going to remove them further from people’s thoughts.

“It would be interesting to know if any veterans have a view on this, though – in my experience – they tend to be a lot less precious about this kind of thing.”