I reserve the right not to wear a poppy

Dear Sir,

I cannot help but respond to your editorial in last week's Chronicle detailing the unimaginable suffering during the 14-18 war.

I reminded myself while reading it that humankind has suffered throughout its evolution whether from hunger, disease or war.

What we have is a deep sense of being alright despite our circumstances that surfaces when the opportunity arises.

It is fortunate that we all possess this incredible ability to tolerate dreadful circumstances and live in hope of it ending.

This resilience is inbuilt into our psyche, whether we use religion to help us access it or not.

I will remember this weekend those who fell during that period and reserve the right not to wear a poppy as an outward reflection of that remembering.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Peter Hirst

Middlewich