SIR - Now that the furore over the farcical and out of date honours system has died down, surely the time has come to scrap it or recognise ordinary members of the public who give unstinting service to the community without any thought of reward, many doing voluntary work. To see snooker, rugby, football and cricket people who are handsomely paid for their efforts getting awards is absolutely disgraceful. This archaic honours system should be scrapped and an independent committee set up to consider names being put forward for the Queen.

H A KENDALL, Worcester.