'Not everyone outraged by Durham students' plan to hold miners’ strike themed event'

Indeed, the great British sense of humour has been a defining characteristic of ours in the grimmest of times.

For those working in very challenging, often dangerous conditions today, humour is a vital tool in building camaraderie, maintaining morale and expressing the darkest of thoughts without fear of causing offence.

Not that students of that world class university are demonstrating gallows humour - but I believe that, in a frantic and uncertain world, the ability to laugh at anything is an asset. And, as every parent knows, demanding respect is a sure way of not getting it.

Mrs J Stanhope, Durham