SIR – Dr Raminder Singh MBE’s letter (T&A, May 20) “Trivial intervention” on the history of why Sikhs are exempt from wearing safety helmets at work brought back memories.

In 1971, Leeds City Transport dismissed two Sikh bus drivers for wearing turbans at work. This sparked a national campaign which ended in a court judgement allowing Sikhs to wear their traditional turban at work.

Around the same time, female conductors were demanding equal rights for women to drive London buses. There were groundless fears that women drivers would lower the status of the job and put men out of work.

John Appleyard, Firthcliffe Parade, Liversedge