HOW very sorry I was to read in the Evening Press that Dick Turpin had decided to hang up his pistols. I do hope he has found a good retirement home for Black Bess.

His was always the first column I turned to on a Saturday after the Yorkatt and Eric cartoon, of course.

Peggy Morris,

High Baxton Howe,

Hovingham, York.

...I WAS sorry to see 'Turpin rides off' (May 31) and he can no longer "stand and deliver" my usual Saturday evening mirth!

Shall we be getting another local heroic ghost-writer instead? I hope we don't get dusty dry lines from the likes of "Hudson Steams In", "Constantine's Column" or "Knives Out With Fawkes". Stick to present day humour - such as "Howlers By Helen", don't let the sweet Mead run out!

Dale Minks,

Ancress Walk, York.

Updated: 12:03 Friday, June 06, 2003