What The Readers Say About Vernon Coleman And The People:

Many readers have written about my resignation from The People. Thank you to you all. Here's a selection of quotes from the letters and e-mails we've received:


'I would just like to say 'Well done' for sticking to your principles and resigning from The People. The country could do with more people like you who are not afraid to tell the truth and act on principle.' - S.P.

'Just a few words of support for your stand against the war in Iraq...I have stopped getting The People as I just bought it to read your column.' - R.M.

'I would like to say how sad I was to feel I will never read a column from you again. I only bought The People because you were in it. No more People newspaper in our house.' - A.P.

'We have cancelled The Sunday People. The only reason we took that newspaper was to read Dr Vernon Coleman.' - E.P.

'I no longer take The People. Keep up the good work.' - M.P.

'I bought and read The People because your column was honest and fearless. So much for a free press and thank God for people like you who have the courage to speak out.' - A.E.

'I'm bloody disgusted with the paper and wrote to tell them I was cancelling my order. I'm sure lots of others did the same. ' - G.R.

'The only pages I read in The People were Vernon Coleman's. Now I know he's not coming back I shall no longer buy the paper. I really understood what Dr Vernon was saying. I shall really miss my Sunday read.' - S.W.

'Like you say, if you can't have free speech that is the beginning of the end.' - Anon

'I'm writing to let you know how heartbroken I am Vernon that you are no longer writing for The Sunday People. In fact your page was the only reason I bought The Sunday People and I haven't bought it since the day you left them. Your writing style was so totally refreshing and honest compared with a lot of other journalists. I do sincerely hope you will consider maybe writing for one of the other tabloids or even a weekly magazine. I also sincerely hope The People's sales figures have plummeted drastically since your departure.' - M.

'Now I am unable to read Dr Coleman's column I feel I have lost a friend or relative. Surely another newespaper or magazine could publish it. I learnt a lot from the doctor - both in health and political opinion.' - D.N.

'I realised your departure from The People newspaper was due to a policy disagreement so we no longer buy the newspaper.' - T.W.

'I will be writing to the editor to say why we will not be buying that paper again, especially as such conduct by a newspaper annoys me more than I can say.' - R.F.

'The only beacon of worthwhile reading was your column and it was a great shock to find it had disappeared without any explanation...a week ago I cancelled my delivery of that newspaper.' - J.S.

'The paper does not hold the same interest as we looked forward to reading your page.' - R.B.

'The first thing done in the house Sunday morning, coffee, then read your column in The People. Now, after the column by you has been stopped, have we also stopped. The People newspaper that is. You gave us such pleasure and smiles. My mother searched and searched, spitting feathers, unable to find you in the paper. We miss you.' - J.I.

'I am completely devastated that you are not in The People any more. We could do with you in the government. I shall miss reading your column in The People. They don't realise what a disservice they've done to us.' - P.H.

'I was horrified and sad to read that you are no longer going to write for The People although I fully understand and admire your reason for resigning. My greatest sadness in hearing of your resignation lies in the fact that there will be no one in the paper to speak for the animals and their loss will be terrible.' - O.P.

'I shall miss you greatly. I am sure you will be popping up somewhere. They can't keep a good man down.' - M.G.

'I was puzzled when I found that someone else was writing your column in The Sunday People and thought that maybe you had gone on holiday. Please do keep me informed of what you are doing. Are you going to be writing for anyone else?' - J.C.

'I am sad to hear that we will no longer see any more articles in The People. As in all honesty yours was the first page I turned to. I have taken a lot of your advice through the years and you will be sadly missed. I now intend to change my Sunday paper.' - D.C.

'I had a prescience about The Sunday People when I bought it and eagerly looked forward to reading your column and was desperately shocked to see someone else in the professor's chair. I vowed immediately to never buy the offending paper again.' - S.B.

'I was surprised and disappointed when I saw that The People had ended your column without any explanation whatsoever. I will let The People know what I think and have cancelled my People.' - C.C.B.

'I am now an ex-reader of The People newspaper after many years.' - D.W.

'I was furious to see that your column in The People has been taken over by someone else, without a word of explanation. I've written to tell them that I shall cancel my order for their paper, as your column was the best thing in it. As I've said before, the tabloids need someone like you to try and teach people decent values.' - G.R.

'Sorry you've stopped writing your column for The Sunday People. I only bought the paper for your pages. Never mind, I'll have to buy more books.' - J.H.

'We were sorry to hear that you were leaving the newspaper which prints your articles (or rather does not print your truthful articles). The loss is theirs. Keep up the great work campaigning for a better world.' - C.P., M.R., R.H.B.G.

'I am saddened to hear of your resignation from The People. If it is any comfort to you, that newspaper will be short of at least one regular customer after you have gone. I am convinced now that free speech in this country is a myth. And I am sure that you have done the right thing. A workmate introduced me to your column about five years ago and that was the only thing that kept me buying The People.' - G.A.

'I am very sorry to hear that Vernon has left The People. To be honest, he was the only reason I ever bought the paper. Can you tell me which paper/publication Vernon plans to go into next?' - A.S.

'I am anxious to know if you are writing in any other newspaper or magazine.' - B.L.

'Why is Dr Coleman no longer in The People. Load of crap that page is now.' - R.S.

'Can you please tell me what newspaper you are writing for so that I can change over.' - M.H.

'Where has the column gone from The Sunday People. It is sorely missed.' - A.G.

'I'm shocked and saddened by your leaving. Sundays for me will never be the same again. In fact, your brilliant columns were the only reason I bought The People. The rest of the content was ignored...I will now be a regular visitor to your website, guaranteed.' - R.H.

'I am a widow of 77 years young and was most disgusted on the Sunday morning to find you were no longer in the paper. The next morning I rang the newspaper and gave them a piece of my mind as to why they had not informed the readers why you were no longer with us. I don't suppose it did much good but I got it off my chest. I have cancelled the paper and so have a few of my friends. Your columns were a good talking point for us, they made us think, also we had many a laugh. Keep up the good work with your books and God Bless for being so honest. I wish there were more people in the world like you.' - T.P.


And many readers have sent me copies of letters they have written to the paper's editor. Here is an example:


'Dear Sirs,

I am writing in connection with your paper The People for which I am a regular reader of some years. You have recently dropped the page 'Dr Vernon Coleman' and substituted an agony column which can be had in practically every woman's magazine.'

'Dr Vernon Coleman is a medical, sound practitioner of a good many years and his advice is based on medical experience and is to be complimented. I have read several of his books for which I am most grateful.'

'I have ceased buying your paper from today, plus many of my friends. I bought it for his page alone.' - S.K.



Copyright Vernon Coleman 2003

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