I WRITE in reply to the letter (December 16) from Elizabeth Tebbs regarding the removal of a white dove from the Radcliffe Cenotaph.

I did put the white dove to one side so that it would not be covered up, but I am not responsible for its removal.

We accept the fact that the cenotaph is not our property and that it belongs to the families of our fallen comrades who gave their lives for their town and country. Remember our motto: Lest We Forget.

Each petal of the poppy represents a lost soul, and has always been red, but each year we find white poppies and white doves. Peace is too late for our fallen heroes.

The cenotaph is there to remind us of what they gave, and for the people of Radcliffe to say thanks in their own, private way, and to show respect and to pay homage.

We all want peace but please leave our cenotaph for the red poppies, so that when the people of Radcliffe walk past they can thank our heroes for what they gave: For our tomorrow they gave their today.

B. W. BLEESE, branch chairman,

Radcliffe British Legion.