I read with some interest your article ‘Most Peculiar’ in the Telegraph Magazine of 25.06.05, since both my own parents were brought up in The Peculiar People and for some time my father acted as chauffeur to their bishop Heddle. My experience was, fortunately, very different from yours, and I experienced a very happy childhood. My father particularly was one of the most loving and supportive people I have known. My point is writing to you is to suggest that there may be an alternative view of The Peculiar People than the one you describe. It is true they held some strange views, and in fact, my own parents left the denomination over the issue of medical treatment. However within my extended family of some eleven families all associated with the PP’s to a greater or lesser extent, I never came across any abuse or cruelty or had any reason to view them as anything worse than ‘a bit odd’. The Peculiar People’s beliefs, admittedly extreme, contained the truth of the Christian Gospel, and for my own family, God scored rather better than the devil. Obviously any opinions on issues such as this are bound to be subjective and the truth difficult to find. In any event, I congratulate you in your success after a difficult childhood and wish God’s blessing on you for the future. Paul Wagstaff