• I, TOO, was shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of Eric Gordon, and am grateful for the valuable pressure provided when West Hampstead Housing Association went bust, propelling it into two mergers… but, with his help, we survived, (Eric Gordon: Tributes to Camden’s great chronicler as founder and editor of CNJ dies at 89, April 8).

I was privileged to have a number of letters published by him and remember that he always had his editor’s blue pencil, sometimes probably used to knock out a paragraph to make the page fit and sometimes to protect contributors from the possible consequences of their questionable judgment, as a fortnight ago when I said “they [the council] are, as often, just too ********* to allow it [a solution] to seep in”.

Called upon to debate with scholars the meaning of the word “conceited”, I would feel confident of success.

Yes, we are all grateful to him and I am sure his traditions will continue. But I do believe some form of useful public memorial is called for.

PETER RUTHERFORD, NW6