My parents worked for the board of guardians at the Brighton workhouse; my mother as a nurse and my father as an officer in charge of the casual ward ("Time's arrow", Opinion, March 27).

The causal ward received tramps, as they were called. These people were de-loused (as necessary), given a hot bath and had their clothes washed and given food and bed for the night. They were allowed to stay for three nights and then moved on to the next workhouse.

I cannot, therefore, understand why anyone should need to wrap themselves in newspapers and sleep in the open. There was adequate provision at the Brighton workhouse - more than the homeless can expect today.

I also remember the inmates leaning over the wall at the Elm Grove section, holding out their caps for "baccy" money. I lived there from my birth until I was five years old, when my parents moved to different employment. I used to wander freely into the grounds and chat to the old inmates. The master of the workhouse, then a Mr Dakin, used to call me Lady Betty.

-Beth Whittenbury, Falmer Avenue, Saltdean