I WISH to thank Brian Beacon for his article regarding families needing fathers ("Sorry, Cheryl, but families really do need fathers", The Herald, January 9). I thank him for is courage in his assessment of the matter, and I hope that the aggression of those who think otherwise will not be too vitriolic.

He manages to not denigrate single mothers but give them praise for what they do, which still saying that the best way to bring up children and especially for boys to have a role model is to have a father and not to choose to have babies without fathers playing a part in their upbringing.

Irene Munro, Conon Bridge.