I was a magistrate who had to retire on turning 70, and it is entirely right that I had to do so. A recruitment crisis may justify temporarily lifting this ban; but the principle that the bench should as nearly as possible reflect society at large is important. Defendants may have made unwise choices, but they should all feel that those judging them do understand their circumstances in life. Having an increasingly elderly magistracy (Letters, 3 January), when relatively few defendants come from this age group, does not assist in promoting this aim.

Peter Braggins

Frittenden, Kent

• Saturday’s travel section (5 January) recommends 40 of the hottest destinations for 2019. About 75% of these would require access by air, thus helping to ensure that they will be even hotter in future.

Peter Leach

Nercwys, Flintshire

• Seaborne Freight, a shipping company with a £40m government contract for a ferry service but no ships (Report, 3 January). You couldn’t make it up. But hang on, isn’t it the hospital with no patients from Yes Minister? A case of life imitating art, perhaps.

Hilary Veale

Weymouth, Dorset

• I am a blue badge holder due to mobility problems. I do not own a car – indeed, I do not drive – but it is invaluable to me when I go out in a car with my wife, other family members or friends. So whose car registration number should be printed on my blue badge to comply with Jonathan Myerson’s “simple solution” (Letters, 5 January)?

Dr Quentin Burrell

Ballabeg, Isle of Man

• As my Flintshire-born mum used to say: live in Hope, die in Caergwrle (next village) (Letters, 5 January).

Rod Warrington

Chester

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