I ARRIVED in Weston on July 9, a very wet, cold windy day, having been collected from Heathrow Airport by my stepson who lives in Wiltshire after having been in transit from the south coast of South Africa for about 27 hours. My reason for the journey ove

I ARRIVED in Weston on July 9, a very wet, cold windy day, having been collected from Heathrow Airport by my stepson who lives in Wiltshire after having been in transit from the south coast of South Africa for about 27 hours.My reason for the journey over to the UK, was because of the imminent death of my mother, who was a resident at Winscombe Hall Residential Home in Winscombe.Finding somewhere to stay in Weston, having tried to secure accommodation via the internet, was not easy, because of English school holidays and the big concert being held on the Beach Lawns. Friends of mine in South Africa told me to try the Tourist Information Centre. Well, never in my whole life have I ever met such kind and loving people as those I met at the centre. They did not stop phoning around Weston until they found suitable accommodation for me.Through the kindness of Mrs Richards of Kyrenia Holiday Flats, which I can highly recommend, I was able to make myself comfortable and attend to caring for my mother.Sadly, on phoning Winscombe Hall, I found that I was a day late as my mother had already passed away.On spending a few days with my family in Wiltshire, I saw on the news that the pier in Weston had burnt down. Tears on my already flowing tears. Not only was I crying for mum, but also an old childhood attraction.Many thanks to all the people who assisted me in my time of need.VALERIE BEDECKER (Nee Nunn) - Privileged to have grown up in Weston -super-Mare.