I ADMIRE the work of the Middlewich Across group which recently took a group of disabled people on a Jumbulance to Rome.

These volunteers have to be praised for their hard work and dedication, providing 24-hour care to those who cannot manage themselves.

I also think that Tim Hough and Sue Bailey have to be commended for helping organise the trip, as do all those who offered their services.

It must have been a very tiring and exhausting journey on a coach all the way to Rome with the added difficulties of helping others.

I was touched by the picture on the front page of the Guardian showing the Pope blessing a young woman and her helper and other members of the group waiting to meet him.

So my congratulations go out to the 'Mad-hatters' (as they called themselves) for their marvellous efforts.

I'm sure the many disabled people who enjoyed the trip will never forget their experience abroad as many would otherwise not be able to have a holiday.

If only we could all offer a bit of time to those more needy than ourselves, what a great place the world would be.

A Middlewich churchgoer.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.