SIR - The recent T&A story regarding the axing of military-style marching for new police recruits brought back memories for me.

When I was at Pannal Ash Police Training School in Harrogate in 1971, we recruits spent quite some time perfecting our marching skills (although much more time was spent on law training).

After much effort we became a very smart and disciplined unit and were more than ready to demonstrate our new skills in front of our family and friends on the day of our passing-out parade when we were due to be inspected by the famous police chief "Nipper" Read. Imagine our total disappointment when heavy rain on the appointed day caused the parade to be cancelled!

While I would admit that over the following 30 years I did not have cause to use my marching skills very often, I never for one moment regretted the time spent learning and practising them, nor the time spent creasing my trousers and polishing my boots.

Brian Pickford, Summerbridge Crescent, Eccleshill.

SIR - Olwen Vasey writes (April 2) "Voters could end deadlock Council". Deadlock? I haven't noticed the city grinding to a halt! If Olwen means voters giving us a majority Labour or Tory administration, no thanks!

The present situation has served Bradford reasonably well, with many - if not most - councillors prepared to work together for the good of the city rather than the narrow self-interest of their own party line (though some persist on standing on the sidelines shouting: "Oh no it isn't"). Were things better under previous Tory/Labour control? I think not!

Of course the views of citizens should be properly represented by councillors elected under a sensible system of proportional representation. A UK example of this is in Northern Ireland where the single-transferable-vote is used in local elections so as to give fair representation to the two main political divides as well as the more moderate views.

Despite the antagonism - even hatred - between past foes, they are learning to work together for the good of their electors. If so there, why should fair representation be denied to minorities over here? (Because they don't use the Armalite?)

John Hall (Lib-Dem candidate, Shipley East), Pennithorne Avenue, Baildon.

SIR - Within our institutions I hear of the sheer number of staff abused or assaulted by undisciplined, obnoxious brats. Surely this calls for a return to physical discipline to halt the endless slide into an unmanageable society.

This obsession has done nothing but produce the disrespectful parents of tomorrow. Spare the rod and spoil the child is an understatement today!

Alan Holdsworth, Chippendale Court, Menston.

SIR - I thoroughly enjoyed reading Helen Mead's True Life (Just Relax!, April 1) on Keda Cowling (pictured). Keda's story regarding dyslexia and her research into the subject, and also her early life when she had to forego a grammar school scholarship due to family constraints, was very moving.

After reading the article, my train of thought followed on to education today. We regularly read and hear on the media that lots of children/pupils are truanting and are not interested in being educated. Compared to the availability of education opportunities in the 1930s when Keda was growing up and all that is now on offer in schools in 2003, why are children not grasping everything that is available?

Have children got too many opportunities today? I wonder if truant-ing children will have any regrets later in life when they find themselves uneducated? Maybe!

Mrs M Gilles, Harrogate Road, Yeadon.

SIR - Events in the war on Iraq remind me of that favourite saying of the British Eighth Army in Italy in the Second World War:

When the Germans bomb the English, take cover!

When the English bomb the Germans, take cover!

When the Americans bomb, everybody takes cover!

L Lumb, Belle Vue Rise, Shelf.

SIR - I am sick of do-gooders protesting against this war, with their false claims that they represent the majority of Britain. Do Karl Dallas and his chums know how silly they looked in that tent?

I wish all protestors would go over to Baghdad and be human shields, and I hope that the ones still out there feel the full might of the Allied forces.

May I remind the anti-war protesters that the carrying of Iraqi and other flags into the square is overshadowed by the mighty Union Jack flying from the top of the town hall!

N Hurrell, The Pickerings, Queensbury.

SIR - My most heartfelt sympathy to Mrs Guy, of Skipton, for the loss of her husband Captain Philip Guy, who died in that awful helicopter crash at the start of the war in Iraq.

Anne Sheeran, Central Ave, Pittsburg, USA.