I AM a 74-year-old widower, and I have resided in Swindon for the last 42 years.

I attached my banner to the 'Proud to be Swindon' mast and, among other things, I supported the fight for the kidney dialysis patients and pressed home the attack by writing to Tony Blair, which you covered in your paper in 1998.

But sometimes Swindon simply confounds me.

It wants to be a city, yet supports so many empty shops. It is supposed to be the fastest growing town in Europe and the wealthiest outside of London, so why are the big High Street names not falling over themselves to open up and trade here?

So much is done to deter visitors, not welcome them. For instance, seven-day parking charges when in adjacent towns it is free on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

I know of locals who no longer shop in Swindon, preferring to travel to places like Bath, Cheltenham, Oxford, Reading and Cribbs Causeway.

The frugal attempts to light up the town for Christmas, with a lack of co-operation from many traders and the authorities, has resulted in a poor show. Feeble white lights twisted round lamp-posts end at the bottom of Victoria Hill what happened to the connecting void in between?

Now we come to the real crunch. Yesterday, I went to the Brunel Arcade taking my camera with me to record and soak up the feel of Christmas. I snapped a picture of Santa's reindeer from the upper level and a hand descended on my shoulder.

A member of security said: "You can't take pictures in here, who are they for?" When I said they were only snaps for me, I was told "you might be a terrorist".

I may add that there are no notices anywhere banning photography, but was told that anyone wishing to take photos had to get prior permission from the centre management.

Oh! What a welcome to Swindon we offer to visitors from far and wide.

Must I now amend my loyal army record to read 14127516 Cpl I E Rickwood RE (Terrorist)?

IVAN E RICKWOOD

Eldene