AROUND April 3 and 4 there was heard across the nation a loud screech followed by a whirling sound of increasing tempo and volume.

What could it be? It was all the pundits of Fleet Street back-pedalling when they discovered that the public, Joe of that ilk, were not after all as cynical, unmoved and disinterested in the passing of the Queen Mum as they, the pundits, said we were.

The scramble to climb aboard the bus of public sympathy and respect was laughable.

D PRATT (Mr), Plantation Street, Accrington.