From Nick Barker.
AS the 65th anniversary of D-Day and that of Liberation Day approaches, forgotten now by many, may I be allowed to express my anger, bitter disappointment and sadness through the columns of your paper?

I refer to the UK government’s apparent ineptness vis-à-vis reciprocal health arrangements with Jersey. This, despite the latest accusation of having vastly overpaid the Irish government for similar health services.

During 1939-45 I, with millions of others, Jerseymen included, did my bit to save the free world. Some did more, some did less and sadly, some paid the supreme sacrifice – but we got on with it without too much grumbling. Our country needed us.

In 1940-1 the family of my then girlfriend gave comfort and practical support to a Jersey family fleeing from the Nazi Occupation to the north east of England. During the following years we all became close friends and after the war, in the 1950s, having married my girlfriend, we commenced our many, many visits to our wartime friends in Jersey.

Our daughter married into that family and in addition to our extended Jersey family I now have granddaughters and great-grandchildren in the Island.

Sadly, the last time my wife visited was some few months before her death in 2006, shortly before the arrival of out two lovely great-granddaughters.

It would now appear that I may soon be denied the opportunity of visiting my family because of the necessary health insurance. The cost of premiums, high though they are, is largely irrelevant; the future problem could well be age.

Now in my 85th year, and in common with many others, I may find it increasingly difficult to obtain insurance for reasons of age discrimination. I had thought that some concessions could have been introduced for senior citizens such as myself, especially those older Jersey ex-pats, but apparently not.

In the 50 years of visiting the Island, I have needed hospital treatment just once.
A recent BBC Television clip shows teenagers mouthing the platitude ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.

I am tempted to advise ‘d**n-all’ because when old age catches up, you become a liability. Your country does not need you.
11 Cambridge Avenue,
Marston,
Middlesbrough,
North Yorkshire.