HAVING once heard again on Classic FM Sir William Walton's Spitfire Prelude and Fugue, my mind turned again to the Itchen Bridge which on its Woolston side passes directly over the quayside once occupied by Supermarine where the Spitfire was built.

In the past, our then town rightly remembered its citizens of distinction; we have Palmerston Park, Watts Park and Andrews Park and the Chamberlayne Memorial.

Isaac Watts' hymn Oh God Our Help In Ages Past is played from the on Civic Centre clock tower every sixth hour. In recent years we spent several thousand pounds remembering the legend of Sir Bevois, who was probably mythical, by building his supposed sword sheath adjacent to Thomas Lewis Way, or is it a cheese grater?

Speaking again of the Spitfire and its designer RJ Mitchell, I feel, like thousands more local people, he should also be remembered by naming the bridge after him.

Having died prior to the Second World War, R J Mitchell was not knighted, unlike Sir Sydney Camm who designed the Hawker Hurricane fighter.

I feel that we should also build a third sized copy of the Spitfire on the roundabout at the entrance of the bridge on the Southampton side.

Although the Hawker Hurricane existed in greater numbers during 1940 and destroyed greater numbers of enemy aircraft, largely bombers, it is generally agreed by air chiefs that the Hurricane could not have completed the job without the Spitfire.

The Battle of Britain was a very close run thing, outnumbered as our fighters were by more battle experienced pilots and aircraft.

We remember the immortal few of Britain and the Commonwealth who fought in those aircraft with pride.

With similar pride, let us now rename the Itchen Bridge, RJ Mitchell Bridge as a glowing tribute to the designer of the Spitfire. Without the Spitfire where would Britain, or indeed the world be today? I shudder to think!

H E THOMPSON, Southampton.