SIR — As I watched, some weeks back, the capitalist caravan of Samsung and Coca Cola trundle through Carhampton followed by an unknown French torch bearer, I began to ponder on the commercial and political destruction of the Olympic ideals.

I remembered 1948 when I attended the London Games to watch the decathlon - 64 years ago, as an 11-year-old, I made my way on my own, on foot and by trolleybus to Wembley Stadium with my cheese and egg sandwiches - a memory to be cherished.

Peter Humber,

Withycombe.