Sir, For years I regarded Facebook as a best-avoided, online site devoted to frivolous, self-centred and, sometimes, downright nasty contributions, but I had a Damascene moment of enlightenment when I became a member of the Old Wantage Group created, initially, as a personal site on which to post his memorabilia, by Garry While.

As I write, the group has expanded to 2,954 members who live, have lived or have interests in Wantage, and now the group has created a unique piece of the history of the town in which King Alfred was born in 849 and where Count Gleichen’s statue had been a centrepiece of the Market Place since Lord Wantage provided most of the £2,000 it cost and the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII and his wife unveiled it on July 14, 1877.

Some words, mine included, are of little consequence and could have been left unwritten without causing any problems, but what makes the group worthwhile is that members have posted pictures, often from old postcards — some of which have been through the post and so bear a useful date stamp — and also recollections of some of the historical scenes and events pictured.

Images of the Market Place through the ages and the seasons provide an indisputable record of the location of various well-known shops and commercial premises, although, sadly, most of the family names like Arbery, Penney, Kent, Belcher, Nichols, Gibbs have disappeared, leaving just Badger as a third generation covering 100 years still in business, albeit in a different location from grandfather’s first department store now replaced by the Waitrose complex.

The generosity and willingness of so many members from all parts of the country and overseas to share has created a wonderful collection well worth a visit.

Jack Loftin

Charlton Village Road

Wantage