Letter: Brewing up ageism over the weekend

Sir: I suppose that because it was a bank holiday weekend you thought it worth giving such prominence to a rather trivial article on Southwold (Weekend, 29 August). Being very fond of the town, I was interested enough to read it, but apalled to come across the following paragraph:

LUNCH TIME. The daily inhabitants of Southwold's row of pastel-coloured beach huts (which sell at up to pounds 8,000 each) are brewing up. Toothless retirees in coats and paisley headscarves are sucking potted beef rolls.

I think that is an extremely offensive, but alas fairly typical, example of the creeping ageism in our society; terms such as 'wrinklies' or 'blue-rinse and Crimplene brigade' are becoming quite common. I hope that now your attention has been drawn to this matter you will agree that such prejudice is inappropriate in the pages of your newspaper.

Yours faithfully,

S. M. PADMORE

Brentwood, Essex