FOR the last few years I have had the privilege of playing the Last Post and Reveille at Whichurch Church. I think it is important for us all to remember those lost fighting for our country.

This year, as we (and many others) began the two-minute silence, I was shocked to be greeted by tannoy announcements for the local road race.

I understand it is important to encourage local events, but considering there are 24 hours in a day, it is disheartening that the race organisers chose 11am to make tannoy announcements when thousands of people across the UK and beyond, silently remember those lost.

Is it too much to ask for two minutes on one day we all show our respect?

Sarah Gray

Binkham Hill

Yelverton

I AM a 12 year old scout. I have just attended a Remembrance Day parade up in Whitchurch, and I was disgusted to hear during three minutes silence, the sound of loudspeakers from the running event from up the road.

I feel this was very disrespectful because Remembrance Day is when we have just a few hours to remember those who died in the war, fighting for their country.

Surely this could have took place in the evening? So that people will not have been disturbed by it.

I am only 12, and I feel this shows a lack of respect, but what about people who's family or friends had died? How would they feel if all they could hear, when they were thinking of their loved ones, was loud speakers?

Plase could you publish this to see what the public think of this, and ask event holders to change the date for next year.

Sofia Benita D'Alessio

Tavistock

THIS year's Tavy 7 was, in many respects a success, if judged by the fact that we had a record field of runners in the main race, they all safely got around the seven-mile course, the vast majority seemed to enjoy the event (many have let us know that already) and we raised over £8,000 for our track fund.

But success has to be measured in other ways and there is one issue which I am personally upset and disappointed about. On this one I acknowledge that we failed.

The Tavy 7 has always been held on Remembrance Sunday. We deliberately start the race at 1200 as we are particularly sensitive to the commemoration and service which takes place at St Andrew's Church in Whitchurch earlier in the morning.

With such a large crowd of well over 1,000 turning up at Whitchurch Down we have to deliver a number of announcements to keep proceedings in order.

Particularly this year we had the problem of having to issue the race numbers to the entrants on the day as we decided not to send them through the post due to the industrial action. As a consequence, we needed to make a number of announcements through our PA system.

However, we were still mindful of the events taking place at St Andrew's and, indeed, the poignancy of the day itself. We held our own minute's silence at 1100 as a mark of respect which was well observed by those there at the time.

However, despite our efforts, I am sorry to say that the announcements from the moor through our PA system did travel to the churchyard (and, no doubt beyond). They disturbed the two-minute silence taking place there as well as the service within the church. For that I am deeply sorry and, through this letters page, I want to offer my sincere apologies to the congregation who attended St Andrew's last Sunday.

Allan Herdman

Tavistock

Athletic Club