IT IS always a great shame when a founder member of a group leaves the institution he or she helped start, but the very essence of any “friends” group is volunteering and if one single hour of a member’s effort is freely given then this must be beyond reproach.

FONTB is the hardest organisation for which to attract membership. We who grew up in the shadows of the bridge are sadly a diminishing breed. And while we love the creaking old thing to bits, the thought of a young and vibrant membership is difficult to conceive. The Bridge is a hard act to sell. It has limited use and one can never claim ownership or even part ownership as one might in perhaps a private preservation initiative. So, the bridge must be sold on the strength of it being an integral and important part of the city’s heritage and those of us involved in heritage must all promote the bridge on that basis. As for the regularity of newsletters, how much more can one write about a bridge other than advertise forthcoming events? Mrs Gatehouse should realise that and respect the efforts of those who are doing the job.

Jan Preece, Wolseley Street, Newport