Thank you

On behalf of the cadets and staff of the Caterham Sea Cadets, I would like to thank the management of the Church Walk Shopping Centre and all those who supported them at the Pirates Day event on 25th September. During that event and in street collections in Caterham Valley, Warlingham and Oxted the Sea Cadets raised £478.15 the whole of which will be used to effect much needed refurbishment works at the unit's building in the Grove, Caterham.

If anyone would like to receive further information about the Sea Cadets, please contact me on 01883 335945.

Tony Skilbeck,

Chairman of the Management Team of Caterham Sea Cadets.

Views sought please

It can be questioned these days, are older people given a fair representation in today's press? Or, is the contribution they give to society nowadays not acknowledged enough by the media? I am researching this subject for a school project and would welcome views from readers please, to provide evidence for or against this argument.

Remembrance Sunday was a reminder of the sheer bravery our older generations displayed in warfare over the past years. This is one of the reasons why they should undoubtedly be entitled to a decent level of respect. We believe that some national newspapers fail to show this respect.

Most common in the tabloid papers, comments are still being made that devalue the lives of older people, and fail to consider the many ways they help out in the community.

After an exchange of letters, MP for East Surrey, Sam Gyimah told me: "'There is no doubt in my mind that the elderly contribute a vast amount to our society. Yet sometimes they do not get the credit they deserve in the media."

In our project at school, it is our mission to get this issue raised amongst the community and our group would happily welcome responses from all members of the local area on what they think of the topic.

Please can you e-mail your views to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or write to me c/o The Caterham and District Independent, 33 High Street, Caterham, Surrey CR3 5UE. Robert Hughes, age 15, Warlingham.