ON behalf of the Preston and District Ex-Services Council we wish to thank you for the front page story in The Citizen (January 3) and the photograph of myself.

Regrettably, although much sympathy has been expressed and some tentative offers made regarding replacement trophies, everything will depend upon whether our member associations can provide a viable number of competitors this year.

They have been told that the committee want the annual competition to continue but in the end it rests with them.

Should their response be lukewarm or negative then there would be no point in obtaining further trophies anyway. Thanks once again for your help.

Ted Hearsey (secretary/treasurer),

Preston and District Ex-Services Council,

Preston.