IR - Like myself, I guess lots of your readers will have been saddened at the passing of Everest conqueror Sir Edmund Hillary, whose grandparents came from Yorkshire, and Sir John Harvey Jones who served as Bradford University's vice-chancellor between 1986 and 1991.

But I wonder how many were aware that in the same week we also lost The Fortunes' singer Rod Allen, who fronted the group since it was formed in 1963.

His wonderful voice endeared him to thousands of Yorkshire folk and I still get a lump in the throat when I play the groups' hits Caroline and You've Got Your Troubles.

Go on say it, big softie.

David Rhodes, Croscombe Walk, Bradford