I WAS most interested to read the comments of the Beales Chief Executive, Mr Tony Brown, who would like our town centre to be more family focussed at Christmas time (Daily Echo Dec 11).

I was originally an “Essex Girl” (no rude comments please), but as a newly married couple in 1956 my husband and I decided to take a two week holiday in Bournemouth.

We fell in love with everything about it. The beaches, the beautiful Winter Gardens, the variety of entertainments, the whole atmosphere of the place.

It was packed with folk, particularly at Christmas. Lots of families, the young and older generations – always something to do.

We sold up in Essex and came to live here within a few months.

In 1966, through my husband’s job, we left Bournemouth to go to Australia and spent the next 8 years taking up residence there and in various other parts of the world. But we always knew that we would eventually return to Bournemouth – there was nowhere else to match it!

Mr Brown’s comments match the thoughts of many of today’s residents and whilst the effort gone into the various traders stalls is appreciated, like Mr Brown, feel that our town is not being used to its full potential, and a different kind of festive atmosphere should be in place. His ideas are excellent and I wish him and the Bournemouth Chamber of Trade every success.

RUTH COOKE, Redhill Park, Bournemouth