Letter: Living in hope

Sir: Hazel Read (Letters, 7 May) has been luckier than me. Having had both grandfathers displaying Gladstone's portrait in their cottage sitting-rooms, a father who always acted as Liberal agent in our North Dorset village, and reputed myself to have said at an early age, "Me no Tory", I have never voted for a successful candidate, though this time, in my ninetieth year, we came a very creditable second.

But the light still shines. Long live Paddy.

ARTHUR HARCOURT

Royston, Hertfordshire