Nigel Edward-Few writes: Andrew Gritten’s (obituary, December 11) visionary plan to revitalise what remains of Britain’s decimated cross-country and under-used rail network, with the reopening of 60 miles of the remaining parts of the old Great Central Railway — primarily for freight and also to link the North West with continental Europe — was no less inspirational than the almost identical plan that had been proposed by an earlier visionary, Sir Edward Watkin, when he built the Great Central just over 100 years ago. Gritten articulated a strategy and attempted through his company, Central Railway, to implement a practical solution — to reopen and revitalise, something envisaged by so many railway professionals in the 1960s and laymen like my father who, unlike the politicians of the time who were seeking short-term gain and who bowed to the road-haulage lobby, knew that sooner or later railways would need to be reopened to save our country from gridlock and disaster. I hope that there will now be somebody else who will take up the visionary baton of Watkin and Gritten.

James G. Cobley writes: One of Sir Peter Emery’s (obituary, December 15) many campaigns on behalf of his constituency was to have the Axminster bypass built. The A35 ran through the centre of the small market town and he invited the Conservative Government’s roads minister down one weekend. On the Saturday morning he drove him to the centre of Axminster, produced a large tape measure and gave the minister one end while he held up the traffic, and said with great delight: “Minister, will you now believe me that the road at its narrowest point is 11ft 3in ”. Not many years afterwards the building of the Axminster bypass commenced. It was another victory for Sir Peter.

Professor Ian Blackshaw writes: Nicholas Gordon Lennox (obituary, October 19) had an excellent understanding of complex legal issues affecting British interests — as I found when I had the privilege of working with him as an outside honorary legal adviser to the British Embassy in Madrid during his time as Ambassador. I can also testify to his formidable people skills. He was charming, well rounded and fully deserved the widespread respect he enjoyed in Spanish and British circles throughout Spain.

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