Letter: Sit down and be counted

Joan Smith writes about a waiter pulling the chair from under her because she refused to stand for a loyal toast (5 October). I fully understand her anger at being coerced into making a gesture of respect.

I was at the England soccer international at Wembley the week after Diana Princess of Wales's death. After not standing for the minute's silence or the National Anthem I was promptly visited by a fuming, snarling citizen who smacked me round the head. The surrounding people looked on but said and did nothing. My attacker and his friend kept an eye on me for the whole game and blatantly followed me out of the ground, presumably with the intention of teaching me a lesson which, thankfully, I managed to avoid.

Unscathed, I remain prepared to sit down and be counted.

Nick Heaven

Reading