Dear Sir,

I am writing to express my gratitude to the lady in charge at the Ibis Bookshop in Banstead High Street. Yesterday (Wednesday 20th) I arrived by train at Banstead, intending to walk a section of the London Loop, Banstead Downs to Kingston Bridge, and found that I had left my map and guide at home in Twickenham. Cursing, I walked up the hill to the town, hoping to purchase another one.

The Ibis Bookshop didn’t have one, but the lady kindly offered to go on line and download and print both items. Having done this, she refused any payment for her kindness (and paper), so I made small amends into the charity tin on the counter. What an example this is of the attention one used to get in the High Street everywhere, and which is slowly dying out.

I duly completed the walk, having unintentionally extended it by a couple of miles up and down the hill!

Once again, my grateful thanks to the lady, whose name I don’t know.

Ian Strachan
Kilmorey Road, Twickenham,