SIR - I am surprised at Mike Priestley for falling for the hoary mistake of taking Baroness Thatcher's comment 'there is no such thing as society' out of context in order to attack her.

She was perfectly right to use the phrase to stop people laying blame for everything on 'society'. 'Society' is people and at that time, and now, too many claimed rights and ignored the responsibilities of being part of society.

I feel as concerned as anyone about what can happen when people take the law into their own hands - especially today when so many do so and only the victimised have no rights.

But when there is a popular move by heavy users of fuel to highlight the injustice of excessive high rates compared with Europe, it was perhaps a safety vent for frustration and the Government should re-think its totalitarian methods.

Incidentally, checking some old accounts around the time of the petrol stoppage, I saw the following petrol costs - September 96 - 56.9 per litre, May 97 - 59.9p, September 97 - 63.79p, September 98 - 63.5p, November/December at discount 60.49p, September 99 - 71.8p, September 2000 - 79.8p rising to 83.9.

No wonder hauliers, manufacturers and others cannot encompass these costs - and we increasingly buy everything from abroad.

B J Cussons, Curly Hill, Ilkley.

SIR - In reply to Mrs K Jowett (September 21). Being 76 years of age, I have had more than my share of Tory lies, but her letter really takes the biscuit. I must admit, I do tend to forget dates sometimes, so perhaps she could remind me of any Tory government since 1945 which has reduced any of the taxes she mentioned.

After all, do people not remember it was a Conservative government who added 17 per cent VAT to our gas and electricity! I wonder if the likes of Mrs Jowett complained so loudly then!

G Marsden, Highgate Close, Clayton Heights, Bradford.

SIR - What is becoming of democracy in this country?

The Government of the day and the vast majority of politicians have made ITN rethink its policy on the timing of the news. Next it may be the content of the news!

Then Chris Smith, of all people, tells the BBC to drop its intentions of broadcasting the news one hour later at 10pm.

The BBC is supposed to be an independent body so he should keep his mouth shut. If the BBC wants to compete with ITN, that's its own business, not Chris Smith's or any other politician's.

The news and its transmission have nothing to do with governments or politics.

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley.

Reunion plans

SIR - A reunion has been arranged for people who worked at the Market Street branch of the Provincial Building Society between 1952 and 1970. It will be held at the Victoria Hotel, Bridge Street, on Friday, November 24 at 7pm.

Those interested in attending are asked to contact Honora Smith (Wilkinson) on (01274) 818373, Val Harwood (Ackroyd) on (01274) 880180 or Jean Blackburn on (01274) 604502.

Mrs J Blackburn, Beechwood Drive, Wibsey.

SIR - Just to thank Bradford Council and the radio stations for a great weekend of music in Myrtle Park on September 2 and 3.

I was up in Bradford visiting my daughter and grandson. We went to this event which was brilliantly organised, with a good atmosphere, and great choice of music. Again, thank you and well done!

Gill McKee, Dovedale Crescent, Buxton.

£800 raised

SIR - May I beg yet another inch of space to thank everyone who helped to make our collection last week at Morrisons, Mayo Avenue, such a resounding success.

In two days, in spite of the fuel crisis and the unfortunate bus strike, we were able to raise £800.19 for arthritis research.

So many thanks to our small, but precious, band of collectors, to the public for their generous support and to the staff and management of Morrisons for their kind hospitality.

If anyone is interested in giving us help, please get in touch with me.

Elizabeth Holbrook, Bradford branch secretary, Arthritis Research Campaign, The Gables, 48 Bradford Road, Menston, Ilkley, LS29 6BX.

SIR - I am trying to find some of my school friends from Shipley. We all went to Green Lane School, Baildon, between 1960 and 1963. I left Shipley in August 1963 to move to Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

The friends I would like to hear from are Rita Cowman, Linda Horsfall, Tina Slingby, Charlie Colefax and a girl called Kathy and anyone else who remembers me. My name was Rita Marchmont.

Mrs R Cox, 41 Harbour View Road, Portland, Dorset, DT5 1EW.