Most of the media has been loud in its praise of Concorde.

Nevertheless, one should ask whether it has been worth all the expense involved in its development now that supersonic air travel has been shown to be not worthwhile.

True, some rich people have saved themselves time by travelling by air but that is hardly justification and now even they will have to queue with the rest of us.

Concorde enthusiasts claim the country should be proud of the scientific achievements involved, giving a lead to the rest of the world.

This raises the question, what aspects of a nation should evoke admiration and make us feel proud?

I would feel happier if our gap between the rich and the poor was the smallest of all countries or if we had the fewest homeless people, suicides or murders.

These factors contribute more to the sum total of human happiness than rushing through the air supersonically.

-RG Jenkins, Hove