SEEING the Grand Pier go up in flames was like losing an old friend, as it has brought so many happy memories for me and my brother, who lives in Mead Vale. In the 50s

SEEING the Grand Pier go up in flames was like losing an old friend, as it has brought so many happy memories for me and my brother, who lives in Mead Vale. In the 50s we used to love going on the paddle steamers across the Bristol Channel from Cardiff to the old pier with our mother and father. We spent the day in Weston thoroughly enjoying ourselves, and at the end of our day out we returned to Cardiff.We returned happy, sunburnt and tired and looked forward to our next trip. I hope the pier can be restored in some way, because the pier is Weston's heartbeat.MRS M JORDAN - Chaddesden, Derby