WHAT a thoroughly spiteful column produced by Julian Cole (March 28).

His jaundiced destruction of Margaret Thatcher and her political contribution to this country made offensive reading. How many years of accumulated hate did it take to produce such an outburst? How blind and bigoted do you have to be not to recognise the good that Mrs Thatcher did, for example freeing workers from the grip of ruthless trades union barons, enabling council tenants to become home owners, removing the dead hand of the State from many areas of our lives, vigorously defending the interests of this country, militarily and otherwise, against foreign interference?

She may not have been Mr Cole's favourite but she was to me and millions more who gave her three terms as Prime Minister. After years of reading Mr Cole's insults to Mrs Thatcher, when he never had the courtesy of using her proper name, I expect no more of him than to kick her while at this low point in her life. She will be remembered with love and respect long after Mr Cole has given up writing for a living, at which time I shall be reaching for my champagne and fireworks.

J Calpin,

Langholme Drive, York.

Updated: 10:28 Tuesday, April 09, 2002