Sir,

With all the recent preoccupation focusing on the cinema issue at the Royal Gatehouse, why wasn't it a condition of the development at the South Beach for the provision of a ballroom?

In fact, I attended the very last 'dance' at the Fountains.

It ended in a huge free-for-all. There being no immediate help forthcoming, the owner attempted to rectify the situation by letting loose one of the alsatian guard dogs. Unfortunately, it became crazed with all the blood around and started attacking anybody and everyone, adding to the confusion.

The melee only ended when the supply of chairs which were being thrown on to the dance floor became exhausted.

On reflection, maybe let it be. Can't remember when this happened, so it must have been in the 1960s.

By the way, the name of the band on that last night, 'The Eyes of Blue', in contrast to everyone else who became the eyes of black!

Richard Howell,

The Shieling,