IN his Dad at Large column about problems stemming from a broken fan on a fan-assisted oven (Echo, May 3), Peter Barron bemoans not being a handyman.

It has more downs than ups, though. People have waited for a family visit to ask: "While you are here, do you think you could?"

It gets to the extent that it is no good saying that you have got your best clothes on, or feel ill or just tired. These events happen when other men have been to the house, but don't get asked for fear of offending them or wearing them out.

It is also a known fact that manual workers are exposed to more diseases and accidents and live a lot shorter life.

An electric oven will work quite well without a fan.

John Barr, Darlington.