Cecil Murray spent many years working in the interest of youngsters

Dear Editor,

I was sorry to learn about the attack on Cecil (‘Pub’) Murray and his nieces at their home, particularly as he received injuries which required hospital treatment.

Cecil Murray, as a Government Probation Officer, spent many years working in the interest of youngsters, rehabilitating them and encouraging them to lead productive lives.  It is therefore ironic that he should be attacked in this fashion, presumably by a feral gang.   Cecil and I were office colleagues.

I had forgotten that he was 82 years old, and many readers might be thinking of him as a frail old man.  Nothing of the sort; he was a keep-fit fanatic, and seemed to maintain a regular, brisk walking routine.

He was also a keen participant in community activities, and had a wide circle of friends and this helped to keep him mentally alert. Nine years ago, when I last saw him, he had the physique of a much younger man.  Fighting off his attackers is just the sort of thing one would expect of him.

Let us hope his nieces are not too traumatised, that he is soon back on his feet and the attackers are brought to justice.

Yours faithfully,
Geralda Dennison