Shrewsbury seating, Trump and slavery – readers' letters, plus a 1975 ice cream break at Ludlow Castle

PICTURE FROM THE ARCHIVE: Back-to-back with ice creams in hand, actress Gayle Hunnicutt and veteran actor Rupert Davies take five during a light-hearted June 1975 photocall. The occasion marked Hunnicutt’s British Shakespearean debut playing Olivia in the Ludlow Festival’s staging of Twelfth Night, set against the historic open-air backdrop of Ludlow Castle.  placeholder image
PICTURE FROM THE ARCHIVE: Back-to-back with ice creams in hand, actress Gayle Hunnicutt and veteran actor Rupert Davies take five during a light-hearted June 1975 photocall. The occasion marked Hunnicutt’s British Shakespearean debut playing Olivia in the Ludlow Festival’s staging of Twelfth Night, set against the historic open-air backdrop of Ludlow Castle. | ©PA

Shrewsbury’s lack of seating, Donald Trump’s presidency, calls for wider apologies over slavery and a tongue-in-cheek request to the Prime Minister feature in today’s letters

Town shelters have shrunk

What is happening to the seating in Shrewsbury? The bus shelter seating has shrunk since the new shelters were erected; all the seating at the top of Pride Hill had disappeared (Oct 31) and seating in Mark's & Spencer would be wonderful for ageing shoppers who may (or may not) have mobility problems but still need to shop with small rests every now and then, and for husbands to wait while their wives shop.

Please Shrewsbury think again!

T Ruff, Shrewsbury

​Donald Trump has morphed

It is with great regret that the Don, in whom I had great faith at the start, has morphed into perhaps what he really was: a man drunk on power, believing, like some Roman Caesar, that all should obey his every dictate, no matter how foolish. He is a man who surrounds himself with bootlickers, fearful of his wrath.

The start filled me with promise. He was right on immigration. He was right that the West was not paying its way on defence.

Then came his tariffs, his pandering to the enemies of the West, and in particular to Putin.

This has led to the emboldening of those who wish to destroy our democratic way of life.

His disastrous economic policies have affected America as well as the West.

His regular childlike outbursts tend to make one wonder whether he is in control of his faculties.

OK, so he can blame the war in Iran, but he conducted it. Yes, I agreed with weakening that theatre of evil, but surely the effect in the Straits should have been contemplated.

Finally, by his actions, he has let in the Left by allowing the Democrats to ensure he is a lame-duck president.

Even now, he cannot restrain himself: "If it had been my name on the ballot paper, we would have won."

Alan M Etheridge, Midlands

Others should also apologise

We all know that slavery was abhorrent throughout the ages, but why are we the only ones trying to apologise for our part in this evil activity? Centuries ago, the Romans enslaved nearly half the world. Attila the Hun played his part over the years, and let’s not forget the Germans, who enslaved nearly half of Europe until they were defeated in the War.

Kenneth Clibery, Midlands

Please can you pick us up Andy

Dear Prime Minister, Aunt Dolly, Uncle Norbert and I are flying to the Caribbean next month from Stanstead Airport in Essex. As this is very inconvenient could you arrange for the flight to pick us up at RAF Shawbury?

Peter Steggles, Rushbury

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