SIR – I was saddened to read Mark Neale’s letter (T&A, May 3) on the state of the Fountain Inn, Heaton, after a recent fire.

Frank Lee (and his father John) were landlords of the first degree from their early days in Bramley, the Ring of Bells, Thornton, the Queen’s, Daisy Hill, the Reservoir, Allerton Road, and finally the Fountain.

As a then-Heaton councillor (with Stanley King and Bryan Hobson), chairman of Heaton Township Association and Heaton Woods Trust, I recall the Fountain being the centre of the community including music nights, special Sunday lunches, Lord of the Manor Courts, Rent dinners and monthly property auctions.

Frank and Joan (and children Fiona and Andrew) were perfect hosts. The food was second to none – Frank used to be at the Bradford Fish Market early doors for the best cut of haddock – his speciality. Bradford City was a corner-stone of the pub, and after the fire tragedy it was the Heaton contact point – grown men’s tears from that night remain fresh in my memory.

They moved to Lytham-St Anne’s after the Fountain sale, but the Heaton heady days are still in our minds.

Tony Emmott, Old Bridge Rise, Ilkley