Sir, – Reading John McAuliffe’s piece (Weekend, August 2nd) about Valentin Iremonger’s poetry reminded me of another side to the man. In the early 1970s, as one of three students hitchhiking around Europe, one of our number had an accident in Luxembourg which meant that the plan to continue the road trip was not possible.We went to the Irish embassy to seek assistance; a rather gruff Luxembourger was not very sympathetic. We asked to speak to a “higher authority” and soon Valentin Iremonger arrived on the scene, listened to our story and went on to pay for flights. He spoke to us for some time and I will always remember him as a kind and gentle man who helped a fellow countryman in need. – Yours, etc,
PAUL ARTHERTON,
Lenaghan Crescent,
Belfast BT8 7JE