TRYING to improve Malvern's place in the world is a worthy cause your Gazette seems to embrace with enthusiasm. What I am a little surprised at is that you do not seem to bewail the town's lack of a mayor.

Not to have a mayor is dumbing down the town and an insult to the dignity of Great Malvern. Even politically-correct Greater London has a mayor.

It cannot be but an embarrassment that when contacting other municipalities, particularly abroad, Malvern only has a chairman.

Just imagine how it must look to them. The image is of an old-fashioned people's republic.

As for our meaninglessly named theatre forum and cinema complex, words escape me.

There are obvious world famous names to be legitimately used, Elgar, Shaw, Lind. Dare one add Kennedy or has he got to die first?

Come on you good burghers of our town and district councils, get into the 21st Century, use our assets. Let's make the most of what we have got.

P C RUMNEY (Malvern Hills district councillor, Priory Ward), Tibberton Road, Great Malvern.