Sir – Ms S. Thomas is right to remind readers about the contributions Britain’s Government and people have made to relieving those suffering abroad, eg the victims of the Philippines typhoon and the Syrian civil war (Letters, January 9).

In her final paragraph, she mentions “the charitable actions of Oxford pensioner Michael Hugh-Jones” — me. She is too flattering — and embarrassing.

I have not, in fact, given my £300 winter fuel allowance to the fuel-poor as originally suggested by councillor Jim Campbell and others a few years ago.

However, I have given £100 to the Oxfordshire Community Foundation (tel. 798666) as suggested by councillor Hudspeth, and another £100 to Oxford Homeless Medical Fund (tel. 792126).

My main object is to get the many thousands of well-off households in Oxfordshire to give £100 each to the county council to reduce the cuts proposed in its budget.

I shall, therefore, send my third £100 to councillor Arash Fatemian at County Hall.

If a mere 10,000 others do the same, that will bring in £1,000,000! And there are far more than 10,000 affluent households in our county. I realise that many of them will have already sent money to charities at this season. As Ms Thomas says, “that embodies the true spirit of Christmas”.

Michael Hugh-Jones, Oxford