AS someone who Mike Cunningham in his mildly astringent way would tread into the dust (HAS, June 29) let me defend the proud traditions of the miners who worked in hazardous conditions to provide us with coal.
The prospect now is for energy to be derived from renewable forms of energy, but not long ago our quality of life depended on the extraction of coal and to my mind we should honour those who made this possible.
I need to make no apology for my socialist beliefs. I regret the perversion of socialism and Communism to impose tyranny. I am against it whatever justification has been given.
My disabilities prevent me taking part in the miners' commemorations. I am with them in spirit and shrug off Mr Cunningham’s insults like water off a duck’s back.
G Bulmer, Billingham.
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