Sir, Never again will I feel a surge of pride at seeing my humble missive perched in the top left-hand corner alongside some majestic editorial.

As one who has been published over a hundred times on your letters page, I feel sad at a change which robs The Times of its civilised spaciousness.

Yours faithfully,
FRANCIS BENNION,
11 Blueberry Downs,
Coastguard Road,
Budleigh Salterton, Devon EX9 6NU.
fbennion@aol.com
October 30.

From Mr John Walker

Sir, I am still trying to recover from the shock of the day in the mid-1960s when advertisements were taken off the front page of The Times.

Now your paper has shrunk. Good God! I shall never get over this.

Time for a snifter or two.

Yours, etc,
JOHN WALKER,
38 Canterbury Place,
Norwich NR2 4QJ.
October 30.

From Dr Malcolm Tozer

Sir, The broadsheet came in at least three sections, whereas the compact generally comes in two. The compact’s news section is thus a strain on the arms.

And with the broadsheet news in two sections, my wife and I could have one each. What will she do next week when I have the lot?

Yours faithfully,
MALCOLM TOZER,
Merrins Farm,
Mansfield Road, Farnsfield,
Nottinghamshire NG22 8HG.
October 30.

From Mr Lewis Benjamin

Sir, My heart sank — and it was my birthday too — when the significance of your banner heading hit me. And then I reflected: accept the change, for behind the new format there remain all my trusted friends, true to themselves and me; writers with whom I’ve daily shared 50 wonderful years.

Yours sincerely,
LEWIS BENJAMIN,
17 Brown Court, Westfields,
Ashby de la Zouch LE65 2LZ.
October 31.

From Mrs Joy Davis

Sir, The new compact Times may be easier to read, but it doesn’t fit the painting easel in my class of five-year-olds. The broadsheet double page was just the right size. Now what do I do?

Yours faithfully,
JOY DAVIS,
4 Stratford Avenue, Grimsby,
Lincolnshire DN33 1EN.
joy__acornhouse@yahoo.co.uk
October 30.

From Mr David T. Staples

Sir, Compact letter?

Yours,
DAVID T. STAPLES,
11 St Luke’s Church,
42 Mayfield Road, N8 9LP.
dstaples@tpcworld.net
October 30.

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