IN my recent letter regarding the plight of carers, I made mention of the Puzzle Tree Centre in Okehampton, but only in passing — and that will never do. Puzzle Tree is to be found under the archway in the table tennis club building. It is a drop-in centre, open to all but chiefly for people with learning difficulties. By all means, drop in for a coffee when Tracey Seymour, manager(ess?) or one of her team will be pleased to explain what they do — which is to organise some 30 people into small groups and send them by minibus, car or public transport to their many and varying workplaces or venues. And then gather them all together at 4pm! A mammoth task. These people — with learning difficulties — are pretty much the same as you and me except — by a quirk of nature — they have a few problems. Generally, they are a happy crowd, although there are some who can try our patience to the limit. But we must always bear in mind that they are vulnerable and need our help. This is where Tracey and her team are to be seen at their very best. I apologise in advance to Tracey if she finds this embarrassing, but it has to be said and it's time somebody did. To become a professional (or volunteer) carer you need a certain something that is almost indefinable. Of course you can, and must, receive highly specialised training, but this is not qute enough. Without this certain something you simply couldn't do the job. I'm quite sure I couldn't. When our Down's Syndrome daughter recently underwent serious eye surgery, Carol (one of Tracey's team) came to Torbay Hospital with us, sat by the bedside and supported both parents and child. And this out of hours, above and beyond the call of duty. Without her kindness, life could have been — difficult. Thanks, Carol. After years of association, I am convinced that this certain something is inbred, in the genes perhaps. It is an admix of tolerance and pataience, love and compassion and an overall determination to maintain and improve on the quality of life of their charges. Which is why the ambience at Puzzle Tree is always a happy one. Now matter how tired or dispirited the staff might be — especially after hours of meaningless meetings with equally meaningless bureaucrats — this ambience remains unaffected. In these days when even the mayor of London advises us not to go to the help of our fellow men, Tracey and her team are to be treasured. I admire them and thank God for them. Richard G Williamson Cranmere, Castle Road Okehampton