Just recently my wife, Eileen and I were visited by two old friends from Nuneaton.

Ralph, a recently retired optometrist and his wife Margaret fell in love with our beautiful city.

Of course, we visited the cathedral, Cromwell’s house and had some wonderful buttered scones at Peacocks, beside the river.

The highlight for them both, however, was the discovery of some delightfully amusing false memorial plaques attached to benches around the town.

Consequently, we spent a very pleasant afternoon walking around Ely finding, and photographing these plaques. We weren’t alone as we found that others were enjoying their quirky sense of humour too.

Unfortunately, yesterday I found that many of them had been removed by the council. I presume that they have been removed in preparation for the royal visit and I feel it very sad that items displayed for the harmless pursuit of making peoples lives more pleasant should be removed.

It seems our grey and officious council has little time for much needed frivolity in this world of Trump, Brexit and climate change etc.

Our future King is not without humour and goodness knows we all need some respite. Please, Ely Council, replace them before I have to inform Ralph and Margaret as it will break their hearts.

Here’s hoping the Ely Standard can give this a voice.

Yours sincerely

Christopher Wood

Ely