Emma Beddington, how dare you (Retired early and wondering what to do? How about fighting for the rest of us?, 29 January). As a 64-year-old woman who’s had to retire early, with a meagre pension, no hope of state pension till I’m 66 and a very low income to show for all my years of work, I am also someone who has protested all my life. I started with the Winchester M3 protests, went on to attend the Trafalgar Square protest and survive rally in 1980, and attended many Rock Against Racism and Anti-Nazi League events in the early 80s. I was also at the 15 February 2003 anti-war protest.
After bypass surgery in 2008, my first public gig was in sub-zero temperatures at a protest in London about the attacks on Syria, when I was supposed to be in bed resting. Almost every day I sign a petition or contribute my voice to protest in some way. And I’ll also be volunteering and providing free childcare for my grandchildren. I am not alone in this by any means. Your article echoes the views of Tory Jeremy Hunt, which is disappointing.
Dr Melanie Jones
Brundall, Norfolk
