MAY I express the thanks of the Newport City branch of the Merchant Navy Association to the Tesco Extras at Spytty and Cardiff Road for letting our organisation hold collections in the stores.

The proceeds of which will pay for the purchase and installation of a bench dedicated to the Battle of the Atlantic in its 70th anniversary year.

It is hoped this bench and a further one we are working toward can be sited on the banks of the River Usk close to the site of the Raymond Steed memorial, so when members of the public sit and rest, they will remember the sacrifice made by more than 35,000 MN personnel who lost their lives and the 3,500 ships that were sunk.

Alan R Speight, Chair City Branch MNA