How sad for the people of Brighton and Hove with the departure of Richard Baker the general manager of the Grand Hotel.

For the past decade in my capacity as fund raiser for The Argus Christmas Appeal, The Royal British Legion, British Heart Foundation, Sussex Beacon, the Variety Club of Great Britain and many other smaller charities, I have called on Richard for his support on many occasions and he has always given freely and from the heart.

Richard is one of the people who has put Brighton and Hove on the world stage during the past two decades.

Thank you, Richard, and may your quest for a new adventure prove fruitful. If they ask if you want your name on a bus, please decline. I trust our MPs will be putting your name forward for title you deserve.

-Brian Ralfe, Hove