I have just heard the news about the death of Mitcham Carnival Parade (Calls from community to save our lost carnival, April 23). A Carnival is a parade, can you imagine Notting Hill Carnival without the parade? It just would not exist.

I imagine that these days it is very difficult to arrange the cost of the transport, the insurance, and of course the good old health and safety.

All the good community things seem to be disappearing. How many years now since the demise of the Mitcham May Queen?

Sadly, I can offer no suggestions for resurrection, but do wish you every success in breathing new life into a long lived tradition.

Eileen Oldham

Friend of Mitcham Common