I served in the Merchant Navy from 1939 to 1945 and am now 81. I went to the memorial service for the Merchant Navy at the church in New Church Road on September 2 but came away disappointed.

The British Legion enjoyed showing off their white gauntlets and banners but, really, the banners mean nothing to the Merchant Navy.

There was not one flag of the Merchant Navy shown (the Red Ensign).

Very little was said about the Merchant Navy and the vicar talked a lot of twaddle.

The main interest was selling tickets for a raffle, for what cause I do not know.

More than 40,000 merchant seamen died during the conflict and if the organisers and the city of Brighton and Hove cannot put on a better show than this, the event should be cancelled.

I shall not be going to the service next year.

-A Hollick, Stanford Road, Brighton