Withheld details are justified

I write in response to the letter from Jim Wood (Tuesday 14th) in which he seems to have a problem with the "name and address supplied" contributors to the letters page.

It seems the obvious answer has not occurred to him, or perhaps he simply prefers to believe something more insulting (poor spelling etc).

I have had letters published for several years, some with my name and some not, and whilst I have felt that it is my duty and certainly my right to comment on various issues, some have been such that one's safety or that of one's family must be considered.

On one such occasion the Star had (accidentally I am sure) published my name against my wishes on a letter concerning a particularly nasty issue. This letter resulted in an extremely abusive telephone call. The reaction could have been far more serious.

So, Mr Wood, we do have the courage of our convictions, and our standard of education is probably equal to or even better than yours, but we also have a concern for our families, which the Shropshire Star and other papers understand and respect.

I hope Mr Wood's opinion does nothing to discourage those "name and address supplied" writers who have a perfect right to offer their contribution without jeopardising their need to be protected.

Mary Karas, Shrewsbury