I HAVE diabetes and I was appalled when I read your report of the disgusting and harsh way in which Type 1 diabetic Christopher Allen was treated at William Hill’s betting shop in Colchester town centre (Gazette November 10).

Those people who complained about Mr Allen should be ashamed of themselves.

They obviously have no compassion or any idea of how much this poor man needs to inject his insulin, be it in the bookies or wherever he might be just to stay alive.

I can understand why people are offended when they are witness to a person injecting themselves, but did any of those people in the bookies who complained about Mr Allen, bother to find out why this man who is living with a life-threatening condition was injecting himself. NO.

I have nothing but contempt for the bosses of this establishment, they could have least spoken to Mr Allen before banning him. I’m sure he would have explained his situation.

I particularly noted and resent the comments of a William Hill spokesman in the last paragraph of your report, when this establishment suggests that Christopher Allen’s behaviour was threatening and aggressive to staff is really beyond belief, and to enforce a ban on a man because of his condition just shows how cold and cruel those people at William Hill’s in Long Wyre Street are.

On a personal note and on behalf of my partner who had a fall last Wednesday in St Johns car park, he and myself would like to express his much heartfelt thanks to the three lovely people who came to his rescue and helped him up afterwards.

Thankfully he didn’t receive any lasting injuries. Only his pride was hurt.

Thank you to the lovely people who helped.

Suzette Mizen Barrington Road, Colchester

  • Unruly children ruin Poppy Drop

Soon after 5pm on Sunday evening, I visited the Castle Park to see the Poppy Drop of pictures of poppies cascading down the front of Colchester Castle.

However, I was left disappointed. I wasn’t disappointed in the Poppy Drop, described as an “animated memorial” and “an act of remembrance”. I couldn’t be disappointed in the ethos behind that animation and the poignant message it was there to convey.

But I had to be disappointed in the “policing” of the area – or, should I say, the lack of it.

Parents, with no regard for others, were given leave to allow their children to run amok at the foot of the castle – with torches and lights.

I was disappointed that it was a spoiled experience.

Mrs HA Johnson Capel Road, Colchester

  • Thanks for help with curry lunch

Once again we Gillian Bober and Sonia Lewis would like to express thanks to friends and club members who attended the traditional curry lunch at the Officers Club, following on from the Remembrance Day Parade.

We organised a raffle and auction which raised £500 for the Royal British Legion, Somme Commemoration appeal.

Sincere thanks to Waitrose, the Lexden Crown, the Officers Club, the Sutton family and friends, who donated the prizes, with a special thanks to Kevin Bentley, who conducted the auction with his usual expertise.

Finally many thanks to the club staff for an excellent lunch and service.

The raffle and auction is a tribute to the day.

Gillian Bober & Sonia Lewis Officers Club Members Acland Avenue, Lexden

  • Let’s hope Trump debunks greens

Sir/madam, Now we have a new President who believes climate change to be a total nonsense, let’s hope his sensible attitude can help to educate the poor misguided people who cling to that belief over here.

John Birch Colchester Road, West Bergholt

  • You’re just wasting people’s money

I MUST respond to Cllr Vanda Watling’s letter (November 10) where she states that the Conservative councillors of Frinton proposed the option to co-opt as long as a Conservative candidate is replaced by another Conservative, as stated in her said letter, to save the council spending money on a by-election in Frinton.

When I, as a Tendring First councillor proposed that both Tendring First and the Conservatives put forward a suitable candidate for the Walton by-election and a ballot taken, both cllrs Watling and Miles cried it would not be democratic to do so because as the ruling group,  Tendring First, who have now been the biggest group for ten years, would win.

They instead made much of not asking for polling cards to save the residents in the region of £1,600, but elected to hold a bye-election in Walton and now in Frinton, thus  not saving many thousands of pounds of residents money but instead increasing unnecessary costs to approximately £10,000 for two by-elections - not the council’s money, I would add, but residents.

Cllr Watling should consult her Thesaurus,  in particular the word “democracy”.

Cllr. Mrs. Iris Johnson Hamford Ward Tendring First