WHATEVER your point of view on the monarchy, four days of celebration showed how people from many cultures can come together and rejoice and give thanks for the multi-definable quality of being British.

It should not be lost on any of us that the roots of our Royal Family are strongly linked into a Europe that has not seen a European war during the 50-year reign of our present Queen.

That this is so is due to politicians who, whilst remaining true to their own countries, developed the vision of what it means to be truly European. We have seen the advantages and followed that vision step by step behind mainland Europe.

For four days we were able to focus on what it means to be British from an inward looking point of view.

We need to use our strengths to look outward to Europe and the world to ensure that the best of British thinking has full influence in continuing to develop a peaceful Europe. - Bill Morehead, Darlington.

THERE is no doubt the Jubilee celebrations surpassed all expectations, even the Queen admitted being overwhelmed by it all.

Peter Mullen maintains that through the response to it and the death of the Queen Mother we have decided on Rule Britannia rather than Cool. Yet having a pop concert in the Palace must surely show that we can be both.

For me the classic act of the whole of the celebrations was seeing the Queen and the Duke walking with the children back to the Palace. It showed how humility can outshine even the most glittering pageantry. - Douglas Punchard, Kirkbymoorside.

COUNCIL PAY

YOU published an article (Echo, June 10) about this year's pay negotiations for local government workers.

This article failed to accurately reflect what the trade unions have asked for in their claim. This has been reported as being for 6 per cent, which is far from the truth.

What they have asked for is an increase of £1,750 or 6 per cent, whichever is the greater. This would result in an increase of nearly 20 per cent for some employees, with an average cost to the local government paybill of nearly 12 per cent.

Local government's Employers' Organisation has estimated that the trade unions' claim would cost council tax payers an extra £80.

The National Employers have offered a 3 per cent rise. It is twice the rate of inflation, equal to the average rate of pay settlements across the economy and all that local authorities can afford.

On that basis, it is a fair and reasonable offer which provides the balance between the need to increase earnings and improve services. - Michael Brodie, Director, North East Regional Employers' Organisation.

EUROPE

THE European Union imposed a travel ban on Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe after he fixed the elections and attacked his political opponents.

He has however, been allowed to fly to an international summit in Italy in defiance of this ban,even stopping off in London to change planes.

The EU and the British Government say they are powerless to do anything.

If you are an African butcher you are okay. Or a British butcher, or even greengrocer come to that, the rules of the EU are most vociferously applied. - Neil Herron, Sunderland.

IT was not an accident of circumstance that led to this country, the whole of Europe and most of the rest of the world, into two horrendous conflicts in the first half of the 20th Century.

They were caused by a combination of nationalistic jingoism, territorial ambition and crass incompetence by European political and military leadership. It is not an accident of circumstances that has seen an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity throughout the member nations of the European community. It has been brought about by a handful of visionary leaders of the founder members and continued by a succession of new member nations.

For many years a certain General De Gaulle kept us out of the European Community.

The Conservatives led by Ted Heath took us into Europe. Margaret Thatcher and John Major entered into successive agreements binding us closer to Europe.

Only Tony Blair has offered a referendum on common currency and then only when he feels that the time is right.

On most occasions when the European Court of Human Rights has over-ruled our own courts, they have been right and we have been wrong. - Alan Benn, Bedale.

AS a floating voter I consider my political views to be neutral, but when Edward Heath took us into Europe I agreed with his decision to do so.

As a matter of fact I thought that we should have been a member of the European Union from the outset.

Similarly I agreed with John Major when his government decided to do something to celebrate the year 2000. He appointed deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine to supervise the building of the Millennium Dome. Unfortunately, no one could foresee that the dome would be a financial failure. Estimated attendance figures of 12 million people did not materialise.

In his letter (HAS, Jun 7) F Wealand tells us that he spent the war years fighting for freedom. Me too.

I also passionately believe in fair play which brings me back to Mr Wealand's letter in which he blames Tony Blair for all the wrongs he inherited from the Tories.

Even though our transport problems began when Prime Minister Thatcher sold off the railways, he unfairly blames Mr Blair. He even blames the premier for Gibraltar even though nothing has happened to Gibraltar.

Under the judicious management of our brilliant young leader our nation is now the fourth richest in the world and that is fact. - P Burberry, Durham.