We are deeply saddened by the news that John Potts has died. We cannot claim to have known him well, but reading his column every week, and living through the times about which he so often wrote, we thought of him as a dear friend.

We'll never forget his surprise and delight when, on his 70th birthday, we sent him a copy of George Mike's book: How To Be Seventy.

John knew how to express appreciation.

His sudden passing has broken a strong link with the past for many of your readers, and reminds us of our own mortality. He will be missed, and a like successor might be hard to find.

Bryan and Jean Marlowe,

Otterwood Lane,

York.

...last month I wrote to John Potts in response to columns he had written about Delia Smith and Lesley Garrett. I mentioned that he may remember my dad, Charles Popely, who was a violinist and led York Concert Orchestra.

It was a great pleasure to receive a kind and thoughtful reply to my note. In his reply John Potts said he had sung with my dad and remembered 'Charles' as: "a fine musician and a very nice man".

I am shocked and saddened to read of the death of John Potts and can think of no more fitting tribute to John than words similar to those he used about my dad in the letter I treasure. A letter written with generosity and grace.

Margaret Lawson,

Aldborough House,

The Groves,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.