A NEWTON ABBOT businesswoman, name and address supplied, writes:

What wonderful celebrations we have been privileged to witness for the Queen's Golden Jubilee and how lucky our youngsters in the community have been recently to live at the time of the Millennium, the Eclipse and the Queen's Jubilee, all once in a lifetime experiences for them.

What a pity there is this element in Newton Abbot, as there is generally, that are hell bent on spoiling it for everyone else and have no pride or respect for themselves or anyone else. I run a small business in Lower Queen Street and have been here for 33 years.

In recent years our end of town has not been represented very well on occasions like these regarding flags, bunting or Christmas decorations from the authority as all the revenue is spent decorating the main street further down, even though we pay high business taxes as does everyone else, and so myself and neighbours try hard to enter into the spirit of occasions with our own decorations for the pleasure of the community.

I decked my shop with flags and bunting for the Jubilee only to have it disappear as my Christmas decorations did, stolen and ripped off from my premises by ignorant, selfish, unruly individuals who do not want to share with the community.

This time, however, the thieving was witnessed and my husband confronted the individuals as to their behaviour. He was met with the most unspeakable abuse and disgusting language by certain individuals trying to provoke him into doing something he could have regretted as if they had a right to help themselves to property that doesn't belong to them. No apologies! or regrets. They are very sad individuals being bred in our midst, I would like to think they are ashamed of themselves but doubt it.

Perhaps in the future the local authorities will remember Lower Queen Street for their efforts and contributions made to our town and include us with decor in the coming celebrations, whatever the occasions, particularly as Courtenay Park is often the venue used for the festivals, etc.