Alpha (From Penarth Times)

Alpha

YOUR issue of February 10 contained a quite important letter from Diane Gregory about Alpha courses, which was prompted by my letter on that subject in the previous week's issue.

I found it disappointing that there were no replies to Ms Gregory's well-informed critique from any of the Alpha organisers in the town.

I was slightly irritated by Ms Gregory's letter in her assumption that no-one in the group I belonged to would know my identity as critic.

In fact I circulated drafts of the letter both to the organiser of my particular group (Mel), and to one of the Alpha organisers in the town (Max).

Although the letter was 'details withheld' as far as the general readership of your newspaper was concerned, my criticism was far from being 'anonymous' the way things turned out.

I thought an element of discretion might be appropriate though. The same applied to a letter I wrote in December 2003 about the first Alpha Course I attended, with copies circulated to various individuals associated with these courses.

I felt I might be protecting the anonymity of other members of what was a small group by withholding my details from publication.

They may not all like the spotlight of publicity. But Mel for one, and Max for another, were given clear advance knowledge in writing of my published views.

Name and address supplied