WHILE I agree with John Blunt's comments on lottery lunacy (LET, February 25), I consider his remarks on the Queen's 'too posh' cut glass voice to border on the offensive.

None of us can be held responsible for the class of life into which we are born: the tone of our voice comes from our family circle, schooling and upbringing.

As to the secret survey on royalty's standing, if this was conducted among 5,000 people or even one million, there would still be a considerable number whose views have not been sought.

How many people I wonder would refuse a royal honour and how many cheerfully would give up such a life if they were born to it?

A brickbat for John Blunt, but a bouquet for the college lecturers who opposed the bombing of Iraq (Letters, February 24).

LILLIAN PLEYDELL, Railway Street, Nelson.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.