“Ode to the country tradesmen”

Sir, – Michael Harding’s “An ode to the country tradesmen” (Life, October 16th) underlines the importance of having a reliable and good plumber, electrician and general handy person available to rescue those of us who are manually “cack-handed” when required.

Some time ago, I had to call a local plumber to investigate a leak over our sitting room. On lifting the floor boards, he confirmed immediately that it was his uncle that fitted the original “T-junction” in the 1950s. When I asked how he knew, he showed me an empty 10 pack of Players Gold Leaf cigarettes that was lurking beside the pipes, under the floorboards: that was his late uncle’s trademark. Local help is indeed good, and they know where the pipes are buried! – Yours, etc,

CORMAC MEEHAN,

Bundoran,

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Co Donegal.

Sir, – What a wonderful article by Michael Harding on rural tradesmen. And what a wonderful personal tribute to his deceased neighbour and friend.

Here in West Cork, we used to call such people “handymen”. Whatever about “keeping rural communities together”, they certainly kept rural houses together! They could do almost anything, from replacing fallen eave chutes, straightening crooked TV aerials, tiling, fixing broken windows, freeing blocked drains, and basic carpentry, electrics and plumbing. Every householder had their own handyman who they could rely upon when house maintenance was needed. While we now have excellent tradesmen, few will stray outside their chosen speciality. The handyman had a holistic approach and we didn’t have to contact Mr Google to source a plethora of different tradesmen. We mourn the disappearance of such good men. – Yours, etc,

JIM LONG,

Bandon,

Co Cork.