I CAN well remember the winter of 1963 which was heralded as the coldest for 100 years.

It snowed around Christmas and then froze for the best part of three months!

The schools remained open, the trains and buses operated and we just got on with it.

Maybe we were hardier in those days.

Today schools are closed at the first threat of snow and before even the first snowflake has fallen and I now see that South West Trains have adopted a similar strategy by announcing a reduced service in anticipation of the expected disruption.

I was at school in 1963 and it never crossed our minds not to attend and this involved a journey of 10 miles by bus, train and then a 10-minute walk at each end.

MARTIN SKIPWORTH, Newstead Road, Bournemouth