I WRITE to express my appreciation of the fitting and touching tribute paid by columnist Mike Amos to his mate, Mike Armitage (Echo, Aug 10).

I have happy memories of them both as schoolboys and teenagers when they visited our house as friends of my son. Indeed, Mike Armitage was John's best man. A lovely man, too.

Thank you, Mike, for your evocative article on your "best mate".

Mrs Marjorie Howes, Shildon, Co Durham.