Our last Kenwood concert was a horrendous experience

WE well remember the old Saturday evening concerts - a far cry from those put on today. There were a mere dozen or so rows of deckchairs in which the audience sat quietly listening to a string quartet. The last Kenwood concert we went to was about three years ago - a horrendous experience! People blowing smoke into our faces, children running up and down the aisles between the chairs and, even worse, members of the audience taking and making calls on their mobile phones.

Those sitting on the grass having a picnic were carrying on noisy conversations and many even had their backs to the musicians.

Criticism has been made that a mere 31 have complained about the noise from the concerts which are enjoyed by thousands. Those thousands usually come to just one concert and then go home.

The wildlife is frightened and those living nearby have to put up with not just the noise from the music but from fireworks too, every Saturday throughout the summer. Friends in Sheldon Avenue cannot go out on concert evenings because their dog becomes hysterical. To suggest shutting windows on a hot summer's evening is not an option. Smaller and quieter concerts are.

Angela Humphery

Willoughby Road, NW3

I was born in 1925, the year Kenwood opened to the public and have enjoyed for all these years the pleasure that Hampstead and Kenwood have given to me and my family. The highlight of the summer concert evenings was to sit on the terrace of Kenwood House and just watch all the people arriving, young and old, children carrying their lanterns, picnic baskets loaded with French sticks and wine, rugs etc.To see the smiles on all their faces and hopefully trying to forget, for a couple of hours at least, the troubles of the world.

Surely something must have gone wrong somewhere to deny these wonderful evenings to so many people. I find the whole episode abysmal.

Leslie A Eckett

Monkfrith Way, Southgate