SIR — To hear that a friend has died is not good at any time, but worse to hear it through a rumour that a body as been found and that it is your friend.

I had to try to find out if it was true so I phoned the police and they couldn’t even tell me if a body had been found.

It was only when I rang a friend at Minehead Rugby Club, where my friend had been a player, that I found out that his sister in Wolverhampton had been informed and that a funeral date had been set.

The reason I am writing is not to blame anyone for the lack of information, but because there are still people in the area who don’t know that that friend, Paul Bates, has died.

Paul had lived in and around Exmoor for the past 30 years; he loved the countryside and the wildlife, but had not been well for some time.

His funeral was held at Taunton Crematorium and his friends from Minehead Rugby Club did him proud.

His sister Jacqueline and brother-in law-Peter and his life-long friend Les, who had travelled from Wolverhampton, were pleased to see so many people paying their respects to their friend and brother.

Paul loved this part of the world and his sister Jacqueline said they will come to scatter Paul’s ashes at one of his favourite places - he had so many it will be hard to choose.

It just remains to say goodbye Paul, rest in peace.

John Davis,

Higher Park Lane,

Cutcombe.