G P Allen (Readers’ Times, October 20) puts forward an interesting idea for a bold city symbol in the use of a Skylon, rather than the Hereford bull suggested by many others.

Those of my generation remember the Skylon well as a feature of the 1951 exhibition in London. It was very much a symbol of its time and as such was interesting certainly but even then was not unique and would have no specific relevance to our city.

The Hereford bull however, is very much of this city and county and has been for generations, with the unbeatable characteristic of both world-wide acclaim and immediate recognition. The attraction of the Skylon was the mystery and wonder of its engineering and construction in those conservative days just after the war.

The Hereford bull, on the other hand has the distinction of representing the city for what it was, is now and for its future.

The Hereford has been used to improve cattle breeding, with consequent improvements in feeding and nutrition for populations throughout the world, for generations and will continue to be of great use in this sphere. G P Allen’s derogatory comparisons with the folly of the Milton Keynes development agency’s concrete cows and the Wall Street bullish symbol are irrelevant.

It may be a lot of bull but it would surely be difficult to find a more suitable representation of both the heritage and future of this farming county, even for those like myself as recent incomers, with no specific farming knowledge or background. That, surely, is its winning feature.

RON HILL,

Leominster, Herefordshire.