Dear Bernard, Firstly, let me say what a pleasure it was to meet you at Leadenhall Market recently and thank you for the time (all too brief!) that you gave to my son(on his 21st!) and myself. Secondly, I wanted to say how much I enjoyed hearing you on Desert Island Discs. It was the first time I’d listened to that programme since the Roy Plomley days! I loved your choice of music especially the Willie Nelson track you signed off with – have you heard that performed by Willie with Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson from their “Highwaymen” tour? It’s even better than Willie’s version. You almost had me in tears relating your childhood. I’m the same age as your goodself (60 this year) and had a wonderfully happy childhood which unfortunately hasn’t quite continued into adulthood but that’s how the cookie crumbles. Strangely I’ve gone through similar religious circles as yourself and now have no belief at all – I even had difficulty celebrating Christmas last year, it all seemed so meaningless. Anyway, enough of the heavy stuff, what really amazed me was the fact that you had been brought up by Wiggins the builder. I spent 35 years in water distribution in Essex and became involved with most builders and developers during the building surge in the 60’s and 70’s (and later, but it was in that period when so much of the lovely Essex countryside that I’d enjoyed so much in my childhood became covered in bricks, mortar and concrete). Those builders included C.S.Wiggins of Thundersley! Little did I know then that the patriarch of that company was the adoptive father of a young man who was to become one of my favourite authors! If I remember rightly, Wiggins were one of the last firms to use all their own labourers and tradesmen, transporting them around the county in a double decker bus well into the age of the sub-contractor. Many thanks once again, Bernard, for all the pleasure you have given to so many. Sharpe’s Battle was on the box again the other evening – in my book that’s the best of the TV films. If only Peter Jackson could be persuaded to make a film of, say, Sharpe’s Waterloo – that would be an epic! Stonehenge would make a great movie too, don’t you think? Anyway, if you’re reading this I’ve taken up enough of your time. Enjoy yourself on your boat when you get to the island! Kindest regards Richard Hobart