In among the usual letters complaining about council tax, gypsies, health spending, the state of the roads, dog poo, gypsies, the weather and gypsies was a lovely missive from a chap in Chippenham about the town's John Coles Park.

It is not often we stop and appreciate what we have got rather than moan about what we haven't but this chap had spent a pleasant afternoon at the park on Sunday and wanted to share his delight in it.

He painted an idyllic scene of families playing cricket and youngsters scampering around the swings while the blazing sun melted ice creams around toddlers' mouths and sent reflctions dazzling off the instruments being puffed into by Wootton Bassett Silver Band.

I know he wasn't exaggerating too because I've often been at the park, which is generally pretty sparsely populated, wondering why most people would rather drag their wailing and frequently snotty offspring around Homebase to looking at sink units.

To pacify them after two hours of mind-numbing inactivity around the plumbing counter they have to stop at McDonald's on the way home. And then they wonder why their kids all look like Rick Waller and get out of breath lifting the remote controls on their Wii.

John Coles is a glorious oasis of tranquil greenery; it is safe, clean and you can get a decent cup of tea at the kiosk from people who smile at you. And going there doesn't cost a penny.

Travel round the South West and you will be hard-pushed to find a better place to spend a summer's afternoon.

And talking of appreciating things, I spent a enjoyable couple of hours at RAF Lyneham on Friday night at its annual reception. To a man and women the RAF staff up there were friendly, hospitable and only too pleased to chat about the vital role they play.

What a crying shame it will be if the base closes, as it is due to, in 2012.

Wiltshire won't just be seeing £25 million a year disappearing from the local economy, it will be losing a throughly professional and exceptionally brave part of the community.