SIR, – My earliest childhood memories are of the family farm of Ratho Mains by the village of Ratho.

Dad ran a herd of Ayrshire cows and a milk round. We still had a German former prisoner of war living and working on the farm – I can still remember him as he always wore his German Army field cap.

But one of my very earliest memories, when I was too young to really understand, was of a room absolutely packed with people. We had, I was later told, one of the very first televisions in the village, and later Mum explained that the room full of people was all from Ratho who had come to watch the coronation of Queen Elizabeth.

Today we will all be able to watch the pomp and majesty on modern TVs. But whilst I was too young at the time to understand, there was something very special of that the day, when so many gathered together to watch the Queen's coronation on a small black and white screen in our living room.

As for our German POW, all I know was that his nickname was 'Grumpy' and his art still remains on the wall at Ratho Mains.

If any historians can cast more light on those German soldiers who chose to stay and continue to work on farms after the war I would love to know more. Or even track down Grumpy's real name!

Gordon Rennie, Abercrombie House, St Monans.