MADAM - May I briefly respond to H Saunders’ letter “Parents, please do some research”.

She really makes me smile for she might well follow her own advice.

What is she frightened of?

I went all the way through Wynstones Waldorf Steiner School from Class 1 to Class 12, and, during my National Service, was commissioned in the Army.

I then graduated in medicine from Edinburgh University and have spent my entire life as a doctor within the NHS.

I have been eternally grateful to the wonderful dedication of all my teachers who worked for much less than the going teachers’ salary.

I was not brainwashed by any strange mysticism – my teachers were exemplary Christians, dedicated to cherishing this planet sustainably long before Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth and even James Lovelock with his gaia hypothesis came on the scene.

A little bit of research into old scholars would enlighten H Saunders to the many successful, fulfilled and caring people there are here in Stroud who contribute a lot to our community.

John Walters

Whiteshill