Late in September 1939 I was living in Southampton and was awakened one morning by the noise of an aircraft.

Having already an interest in aviation, I looked out of the window to observe a Heinkel 111 circling over the docks area at about 1,000 feet.

I pointed this out to my father and, after showing him my Aircraft Of The Luftwaffe book I convinced him it was in fact a German aircraft, and asked why it was not being shot at.

When he came home that evening he told me that it was not fired upon because nobody had given the orders.

This, at a very early age, caused me to question the competence of any authority/management I came into contact with for the rest of my life.

In view of what has happened recently over the new council HQ and the Clifton Bridge fiasco, it appears my 11-year-old judgment was correct.

Mike Usherwood, Mendip Close, Huntington, York.