JOHN HANSELL, of Church Road, Dartmouth, writes:

One of the few advantages of joining the ranks of the Grey Brigade is that it gives me an opportunity see life in its true perspective.

When I first came to Dartmouth in 1972, as a young man, I was beguiled by the excitement and razzmatazz of the annual regatta.

With 30 years experience of running a solicitors' office in the town, I saw what a tremendous financial boost this event gave to the business community and in many cases being critical to the very survival of many of them.

Now retired, I have some sympathy for those who see regatta as a massive intrusion into their congenial lifestyles in this so-beautiful town.

Who is not sickened by the sight of drunken 14-year-old girls staggering round the town?

A small and dedicated group of people, to their great credit, spend countless hours organising this massive event which every year seems to get bigger and better.

The recent exchange of views in your pages from Johnny Chick's colourful questioning to the traditional views of Melvyn Stone highlight the division of views on the subject.

Surely the time has come to have a root and branch rethink on what regatta is all about and whether it meets the needs and wishes of the town.

Mr Chick is right in saying that rowing must be at the heart of the event and that we can learn from the success of the food and the music festivals. The central issue is that of the compounding budget making it necessary to rethink not only the event itself but, equally important, the funding.

Firstly, an analysis is needed of which businesses derive the greatest financial benefit and then to devise a scheme whereby those businesses contribute a fair and proportionate part of the costs.

Visitors, while being welcome, should be expected to contribute by a direct charge per head rather than roll up to a free festival with isolated and grudging donations into collecting tins.

Only by putting regatta on a sound financial platform can one hope to not only maintain and improve the quality of the event but also to have it properly controlled and thus regain the waning support of those for whom Mr Chick has spoken.

We would all support a well-ordered and properly financed regatta which we knew was bringing benefit to the town and none but the churlish would resent sharing our piece of paradise for a few days a year with all the visitors, be they champagne swiggers or dross!