Your Letters
Richard III no doubt wanted to end the conflict over the right to rule England. His nephews were possibly illegitimate in two ways - because of Edward IV's extant betrothal to someone else when he married Elizabeth Woodville, and rumours about Edward's own parentage. Richard saw himself as the only remaining undoubted son of Richard, Duke of York, and could have decided to eliminate the princes in a horribly misguided attempt to end competing claims and further bloodshed. Richard III was supported by many of his brother's adherents up to the point where the princes disappeared, after which the support rapidly began to dwindle. He wasn't as evil as the Tudor myth claims, or as wonderful as the Richard III Society might like to believe; somewhere in between?
C A Buckley, Dudley
I remember being ridiculed by the police for taking a book into Derby's Baseball Ground! If you were a football fan, you obviously didn't have a brain, and that was the way you were treated. I'm not trying to pretend trouble never happened, but the mind-set of the police helped to make the problem worse some times, never more so than at Hillsborough in 1989. It has always been my favourite away ground, but I do remember being there when Coventry played Sheffield Wednesday in the 1987 quarter final, when you did regard the crowd congestion as part of the experience (if not necessarily the "fun"). Personally, I've always found Liverpool fans to be the best to be around at grounds, so it's always seemed tragically ironic that they have been at the centre of the two worst football related incidents. It is, at least, something that there is now recognition that their football fans were innocent of their own deaths.
Neil, Coventry
What always appalled me was how little the police, the FA and football clubs actually spoke to each other about a common and long-term solution. I know it's not on the same scale, but I help run a festival here in Hastings and we couldn't possibly manage without significant and constant discussions & meeting with the council, police, fire brigade, ambulance service, licensing authority, ect ect ... communication is essential.
Fee Lock, Hastings, East Sussex
Talking of Christmas coming early - in a fit of previously unknown efficiency, I actually bought all my Christmas presents last Wednesday lunchtime. Even wrapping paper and cards. I'm not sure whether to be proud or ashamed.
Michelle, London