Well done to the men and women outside Morrisons recently, selling poppies while wearing wartime costumes and playing music from that era.

It created a wonderful atmosphere, helping us to consider what our old people had to face during the war, the courage and determination that they showed and their willingness to help others.

I am grateful for the presence of old people in our community and have often explained to my children the lessons of life that older people have learnt, and are able to share with younger people, to the benefit of society.

What a contrast to the sentiments of the author of the "Blue rinse brigade clog up shops" letter of 28 October.

It showed an unbelievably selfish approach to life. Is he saying that old people have lost all value, and should not contaminate the lives of others by their presence?

I hope all parents instruct their children to value the lives of others, rather than treat people with such disdain.

And no, I am not an old person feeling personally under attack by such a letter. I am a mother of three young primary age children who works full time. So I also have no choice but to do our food shopping on a Saturday.

As parents, we regularly teach our children that every person is valuable and should be treated with kindness and respect. What hope for future generations in this country if we abdicate such responsibility.

The author's suggested curfew for the aged is similar to the Nazis' approach to the so-called unproductive members of society.

Is he proposing that we should send old people to the euthanasia clinics in Switzerland?

How much poorer society is when we start to give differing rates to the value of people's lives.

I hope when the author becomes a pensioner, enough people have disregarded his thoughts about the way we treat our old people, so that he will be able to enjoy a retirement with respect.

F Egleton, Sidcup