MADAM, It was with a great deal of sadness that I heard of the death of Jeremy Sandford, the author broadcaster and musician.

Herefordshire and indeed the whole world will be the poorer for his passing, a real gentleman he was.

Jeremy was a friend to many people, especially the travellers, and those in need of help and support, the homeless and the oppressed, and he would go out of his way to do you a good turn.

His play 'Cathy Come Home' resulted in a complete change in the way that social services treated poor people with children, as on TV the public were shown the reality of the way youngsters were snatched away by appallingly cruel and heartless 'welfare' officials, who frequently took sadistic pleasure in their evil work.

Jeremy had the courage and ability to expose the abuses that were the norm, even in the 1960s and beyond and many in the family that owes its continued existence to him and his film and influence.

Herefordshire should really raise some form of memorial to Jeremy Sandford, who was certainly a very great and influential man, and one who I was privileged to count as a friend. We shall not see his like again.

W F KERWELL,

Past Vice Chairman National Gypsy Council,

Church Stretton.