I had the privilege of being Mayor's Secretary for eight years in the days when the Borough was called Thamesdown. In those days the post was combined with that of Civic Services Officer responsible for security, tea ladies (remember them?) and any functions that did not fit neatly into any other department, so it is not directly comparable.

However, I had a deputy, three additional staff and three Mayor's Attendants. We were an efficient and effective team who earned our money, as did the Mayor. Mayors and Mayoresses (or Consorts) worked extremely hard, having to surrender their personal lives to the Office for the year. Several Mayors commented that they had had a wonderful and rewarding time but couldn't face it again, and in spite of the financial allowance, many were left out of pocket.

I have no doubt that the life of Mayors, Mayoresses and the Mayoral Staff is much the same today as in my time.

Your article sought to compare the Mayor of Swindon with the Mayor of Royal Wootton Bassett, but they are not comparable. One is the Mayor of a Borough, the other a Town Mayor, an important, but completely different, office and function. If comparisons are to be made, it should be with Mayors of Boroughs of comparable size and status.

We should be grateful that there are men and women willing to give their service to the life of our Borough.

Laurence B Moss Mill Close Wroughton Swindon

Waters going on?

I am writing to ask if anyone knows why the water fountains at Asda Walmart are turned off again, on what was probably the hottest day yet in Swindon this year? Children love playing in water, even the dogs enjoy going there! Yet, once again my daughter was disappointed as they were turned off. This would make an enjoyable afternoon and it doesn't cost too much either.

There is a play area, ice cream van and lots of nice shops to look at plus a coffee shop and the cafe in Asda, but why on earth are the fountains turned off?

On three occasions now I have turned round and gone elsewhere, because the fountain is off. It really makes no sense.

I look forward to any information or answers surrounding this. Thank you L Hobbs Lydiard Millicent Swindon

Economic error

The letter from Michael Thomas (July 9) on the economic crisis, where it came from and the damage it is doing to the world economy, covered a wide range of causes and I would not disagree with any of them.

He blames it on the form of economics which has come to dominate the manner in which wealth is distributed across the world which he calls Neo Classical Economics, otherwise known as Monetarism.

Monetarism, the practise of controlling the supply of money as the chief method of stabilising an economy, the economic theory is based on a belief that the supply of money is the crucial determinant of a level of demand (in opposition to the Keynesian view) and that strict government control of the money supply is necessary to prevent high inflation.

The chief exponent of monetarism was the American economist Milton Friedman. He was policy advisor to President Reagan 1981-89, he believed governments lacked the political will to control inflation by cutting spending because it would increase unemployment, but Margaret Thatcher controlled the money supply and cut spending but still got inflation and high unemployment!

George Osborne, a monetarist, is not an economist and admits to not liking economics. His interest in politics is in politics itself, which explains why in economic decisions, as in everything else, one can see his neo-con right wing bias and why things are getting progressively worse.

Milton Friedman died in the 1990s but before he died he said he got it wrong. Monetarism does not work!

M J Warner Groundwell Road Swindon

High support

I was greatly encouraged by the contribution to your Letters by no less a person than William, Earl of Dartmouth MEP, setting out the horrendous prospect of the present uncontrolled level of immigration to our small, already overcrowded island.

The damage to our country and its way of life imposed upon its citizens by Blair and his cronies is unforgivable.

Frank Avenell Beckhampton Street Swindon