I would like to tell Alan Page (Oxford Mail, February 4) a little about my upbringing on the urban estate in north Oxford.

I lived with my parents and two brothers from 1934 (before the Cutteslowe wall) to 1953, when I married and left home. Rent was paid to a private company.

At that time, my father was a lower-paid post office worker.

He grew vegetables on the allotment and soft fruits in the back garden to supplement the housekeeping.

My mother made my summer dresses, knitted cardigans for me and pullovers for the boys.

Shoes and coats came from the Co-op 'divi'. Rubber 'stitch-on' soles were put on the shoes to make them last longer and dad did any minor repairs.

I went to school with children from both estates and was invited into homes from both sides. I must have missed the 'squalor'.

Looking back, I remember many children from the council estate came from large families.

Undoubtedly this contributed to the poverty. There was no family allowance then.

We had loving, caring parents and I had two great brothers, and still have. We had a comfortable home, sufficient to eat and decent clothes to wear.

We were taught to respect other people and their property. Yes, we were 'rich', but not financially.

One cannot stitch labels on people or places and be totally right or wrong.

Ironically, had we lived in a council house, we would have been labelled 'poor'.

BETTY COX

Cumnor Road

Wootton

Abingdon