MRS Broadbridge's letters (September 20) are always good for a laugh, with her quaint obsession with times past as she thinks they were.

Being, like Mrs Broadbridge, an 'oldie', I remember the '50s and '60s just as well as she claims to. She seems to have forgotten that back then the continent of Europe was slowly recovering from a devastating war which had destroyed their farms, factories and infrastructure. Due to the English Channel protecting us, we in Britain hadn't suffered invasion, occupation or battles on our own soil and were in a better economic position than our neighbours. We also had colonies all over the world forced to sell us their produce at prices we set; now they're independent states and they set the prices and sell to whomever they like.

We may have been 'Great' back in the post-war era, but the world has changed since then. The EU, which Mrs Broadbridge dismisses as "a mess", has a population of 550 million, is the world's largest and strongest economic bloc and when making trade deals has a strong bargaining position. Does she think Britain alone, with a population of 60 million, will be able to make better deals? President Trump claims to want to "Make America Great again!" What sort of trade deal do you think the US will be willing to make with us if we leave? It'll be a deal which suits the mighty US, not the puny GB – you can bet on it.

That's why I hope there's still time to stop the economic madness of Brexit.

Martin Kyrle

Chandler's Ford