Madam, - Over the past 25 years John Hume has set before many audiences an image based on his first visit to Strasbourg as an MEP, when he stood on the bridge over the Rhine, linking the beautiful French city and its busy German neighbour, Kehl.
For the SDLP leader, that bridge became a durable symbol of the whole movement for European Union and of its purpose as described by Jean Monnet: "to persuade men to work together; to show them that beyond their differences of opinion, and despite whatever frontiers divide them, they have a common interest".
John Hume worked tirelessly to give concrete reality to that goal in the divided community of Northern Ireland and to set the search for progress and peace in its wider European context.
I have heard Mr Hume advance his vision in memorable addresses to his party conferences in the dark days of the 1980s when hope was difficult; in a speech to an audience of thousands at a European Socialist Congress in Barcelona as the peace process began to produce results in the 1990s; and just a fortnight ago as he encouraged his socialist colleagues from the European Parliament, during their visit to the Irish EU Presidency, to work for true solidarity in the enlarged Union after May 1st.
John Hume has made the essential connection between the historic insights of Monnet and the circumstances of this island and its neighbour.
We can best pay tribute to his enormous contribution by retaining that inspiration in all we do. - Yours, etc.,
TONY BROWN, Bettyglen, Raheny, Dublin 5.