Sir,-As an ex serviceman, I have been following the various letters referring to Kneller Hall with interest.

All four letters published in the April 11th edition were from personnel who had been invited or were in some way involved in organising this charitable soire.

It is encouraging to note that a number of changes to the proposed soire programme were made which clearly resulted in a dignified and respectful programme.

I thought Berendina J Norton's letter was most moving, but spoilt by the last paragraph and her lack of concern for the junior staff who had to attend and pay, in pursuit of her understandable aim.

If our member of parliament and Barry Buttenshaw cannot understand the point Chris Keeble made and the request to postpone this soire by the rank and file, they should have both watched on the television our service personnel being returned in coffins draped by the Union Jack.

It is assumed that Lieutenant Col Peter Dick-Peter is a media spokesman with his letter drafted by a member of staff at Kneller Hall. What an extraordinary letter!

Quite clearly, Chris Keeble's letter has ruffled a number of feathers and the fine old military tradition of the best form of defence is to attack has been embarked upon.

I can only assume from the tone of this letter that is the style of leadership that the staff at Kneller Hall have to endure on a day-to-day basis. If this is the case, no wonder morale is low.

In his letter Lieutenant Colonel Peter Dick-Peter, quotes that no public money has been spent on either of these two lunches, but fails to say if any public money was spent on the soire, I wonder why?

As the spokesman for this unit I would have expected him to be accurate when quoting facts. I am reliably informed by a member of staff that public money was spent on the second lunch quoted and the soire, on catering staff costs, utilities, general wear and tear of equipment and military and civilian staff salaries in preparing for the soire.

It is good news that both these worthy charities are to benefit to the sum of £1,200 each.

The moral dilemma of whether this soire should have taken place whilst our service personnel are engaged in a war, and if it is acceptable to expect subordinates to attend and pay on a whim of the senior officer, rests with the senior officer.

This same senior officer has a duty to be prudent when spending public money with the current cash crisis in schools, National Heath Service and the heavy increase in council tax in each borough household, due to the lack of government public funds.

Is it not time that the senior officer took time to reflect on this whole unsavoury and unnecessary display of hanging Kneller Hall's dirty laundry out in public?-Fred Phillips, Hospital Bridge Road, Whitton.

April 30, 2003 16:00