Sir, If there is one man who should have got sincere 'thanks' from readers of the Observer, it is Meyrick Brown. I look forward every week to his 'Straws in the Wind'. There are times when my mind goes back to my youth when Pembrokeshire was agricultural and most of my relatives were farmers. It is many moons since I had close contact with farming, but get my education renewed via 'Straws' and the radio/television programmes and feel refreshed. My own career was involved with another basic industry, textiles, especially the cotton spinning mills and the developing of better and more consistent fibre. Like farmers, I was blessed with close contact with the people who worked well and produced the most excellent products. So thank you, Meyrick. Please carry on the good work and give more pleasure - especially your tailpieces!

Ivor Jenkins,

Poynton, Cheshire.