FOLLOWING Ron Godfrey's article on the sad loss of family man and farmers' champion Mike "Mr Sugar Beet" Blacker, I write in tribute to a great campaigner on behalf of his fellow farmers, sugar beet factory workers, haulage contractors, and the many ancillary groups.

Mike, even though he was latterly terminally ill, met the Prime Minister, along with Anne McIntosh, to negotiate the saving of all our livings, sadly to no avail.

I had known Mike around 50 years, from Young Farmers' days. Even then, at such a young age he impressed, it was obvious that he would command the respect of others. His keen, sometimes risqué, sense of humour, but never offensive, appealed to his many audiences.

We have lost several good farmers recently, not least Mike Blacker. God speed to them all.

Pamela Z Frankland, Hull Road, Dunnington, York.