Should charity fund-raisers in the form of abseilers be allowed to use Peacehaven cliffs because of the risk of damage?

The town council was reported as being against the idea in these pages last Thursday, prompting much comment.

Even the Voice of the Argus climbed aboard, stating there was nothing wrong with the pursuit and telling the council to take a running jump without any safety precautions.

This was an "extremely rude remark", says Arthur Mitchell, who took particular exception because his wife is one of the councillors.

He explains: "How would you like it if you spent £5,000 having the outside of your house renovated only to wake up one Sunday morning to find people on your roof and jumping down your walls?

"They had asked permission from a neighbour, who had said 'OK, go ahead' without consulting you.

A few days later, a claim for damages is filed against you because one of the abseilers had broken a leg and it had happened on your property.

"I don't dispute people raising funds for charities are doing a good job, but let them jump off the Argus building, not our back garden."

In a suitably rude conclusion, Mr Mitchell says: "I hope you have eaten enough beans to boost up the gas already in your body to soften your landing."

Okay, point taken, Sir. The remark was meant to be a pun but was clearly in somewhat poor taste and fell (oh, there's another one) on deaf ears. Sorry.

Nevertheless, we still believe what we said in all seriousness that the cliffs are not crumbling because of the abseilers and, if anything, their natural beauty is having attention drawn to it.

And, for the record, abseilers are welcome anytime to try out Argus House, although I'm not sure it's exactly suitable.

We reported last Thursday how childhood sweethearts Ethel Howell and Lionel Woodhead had been reunited after 60 years apart, but were being forced apart again after eight years because of Mr Woodhead's illness and confinement to a nursing home.

And that was about all we got right. Mr Woodhead's wife, Marie, explains: "He did not board at Brighton College but was a day boy and he and Mrs Howell met up when she telephoned him one day as a result of a news item about his father.

"He joined Barclays Bank before the war, not after, and lived with me in Ovingdean until 1986.

"My marriage to Lionel had not ended when Ethel contacted him. We split up as a result of Ethel contacting him, but remained married.

"I visit him two or three times a week in his nursing home, as do his daughter and sons when they can as they live a long way away.

"Finally, he would hate to think you had put him in the Army. He was Air Force - and loved it."

As if that wasn't enough, Mrs Woodhead also points out that we spelt Barcombe, the village where Mr Woodhead and Ethel grew up together, as Barkham. My humblest apologies to all involved.

In our special supplement, Ambitions, in last Thursday's paper, we stated that register office weddings could be booked only three months in advance.

In fact, Brighton and Hove's Superintendent Registrar Linda J Holm tells me that since 1997 this time has been extended to 12 months.

Thanks for putting us - and prospective couples - right on that one.