CONGRATULATIONS to Ally Hardy for her feature on the demise of the Government apprenticeship scheme (Malvern Gazette, March 15). She withstood well the ramblings of two septuagenarians!

Electronic and mechanical apprentices of later years will have recognised changes during their apprenticeships as the scheme quite rightly adapted to differing requirements over the years. But the main thrust, that of the lost value to the community and nation, will be well understood by all in the light of the present perceived shortfall of technical skills in the country.

Periodic apprentice reunions at Malvern are here to stay. Your article mentioned the ones of 1997 and 2002 but we failed to mention the successful one organised by Reg Dixon and helpers in 1999. Certainly congratulations are due to John Atkinson and the other organisers of this month's reunion, attended mainly by year entries 1955 to 1963, who contacted each other on www.college-of-electronics.org.

We 'oldies' (entries 1947 to 1952) are aiming for another reunion later this year; anyone from these entries who did not get in touch at the 1997 reunion should contact Ken Hayter on e-mail kwhayter@yahoo.co.uk or by using the bulletin board at the website above.

JOHN BARKER, Tibberton Road, Malvern.