I am a former history and English teacher of over 50 years.

My interest was with Putney Church and the Putney Debates on democracy.

What fascinated me was that these common soldiers - "poor scrubs" as they called themselves - should (a) argue with their commanding officer (b) experience the worst universal male suffrage, just becuase they had shed blood in two civil wars.

O Cromwell Esq (he is outside the House of Commons today, warts and all) couldn't see this.

His son-in-law, General Ireton, put it neatly: "Where is it to end?

"Soon landless men will vote us out of all our land."

You see, I have a personal interest.

Young people like me in 1944 and 1945 volunteered for war but, at 18, were not allowed to vote.

And at the sharp end, one didn't debate anything with any officer - if you wanted to stay alive that is. They did not carry a .38 for nothing.

Anyhow, today I went to Putney Church to see the plaque on the above.

It was behind a door! I asked the vicar why the Putney Debates cannot be re-enacted, in costume, by the Sealed Knot Society, which re-enacts Civil War battles 1640 on. They are very good.

I asked him twice, as I could not believe my ears.

He actually said such events were tacky and also there was a bit about it in the Guardian.

I tried to follow this up - I am an historian but he then actually said, "Look, I am very busy".

R DAVIDSON Putney Hill Putney