I AM responding to your headline on the letters page on Monday March 22, which stated 'There is no fairy coming to save it' referring to the Mechanics' Institute.

As one who has always been passionately interested in the history of our country and my adopted town of Swindon, I know that a deep sense of caring and civic pride is absolutely crucial to the growth and the throbbing heart of a balanced, thriving town. In order to go forward, we must first embrace and respect the past.

The Mechanics' Institute is a Grade II* listed building which played a crucial role in the early days of Swindon's growth as a caring community, when almost every man worked "Inside'' at the rail works.

Martha Parry and her dedicated stalwart team have devoted the past nine years to saving the only remaining historic building of significance in our town.

They and many remarkable caring people in our community who have not flinched from constant denigration, but stood firm in the face of uncaring and indifference, deserve our deep gratitude, not the ceaseless condemnation from people who do not care less when historic buildings are ignored or, in some cases, deliberately destroyed.

Without people of calibre who are unafraid to stand up and be counted, so much of priceless aesthetic value would be lost forever. The selfish destructive elements within our society must not be allowed to ride rough shod over our precious heritage, including beautiful areas of countryside that can never ever be reclaimed.

The inheritance of future generations matters desperately. So, let us all unite and rally to save our town from any further destruction, that we can be truly proud to live in Swindon.

MARY RATCLIFFE

Old Town