I was surprised to find that your staff followed up assertions made in an anonymous letter regarding the artefacts stored at the Sailors' and Soldiers' Association premises in Atherton.

As a result incorrect information has been published and this will need to be corrected.

Like all other clubs of its type the Sailors' and Soldiers' Club is finding it difficult to operate due to the ageing of our membership.

To offset this we applied to Wigan Council to allow us to hold a certain number of events each year which would be open to the public. This was granted.

In addition it has always been our policy to allow members to use the concert room premises, arguably the best in the area, for family functions.

Outsiders attending such functions have, on accasion, failed to give the displayed items the respect that they deserve.

They include the coat of arms of HMS Ulysses, the ship adopted by Atherton during the war, and a print of a Lancaster bomber signed by two recipients of the Victoria Cross.

To safeguard them and the hundreds of other items they have been moved from the entrance lobby to a small bar dedicated to that purpose.

The Association welcomes ex-service men and women whether they served for a short spell or made the services their career. Associate membership is open to anyone who can be properly proposed and seconded.

Not all our members agree with opening the club to a wider and hopefully younger group, but everyone appears to be happy with the arrangements for the display of our service memorabilia.

DOUGLAS FINDLAY

Secretary