Many of us read how the Rev Alan Barrett got into serious trouble for pecking a 10 year old girl on the cheek in a classroom to congratulate her. Comment I think the whole thing is absolutely ridiculous. He kissed her on the cheek, not the lips and it was done publicly so where’s the problem? Presenters and other celebrities often kiss people on camera. Orlando Bloom kissed a very young Newsround reporter at the premier of Pirates of the Caribbean the other week. The girl was delighted! Are there therefore different rules for different people? If children want to give you a hug in public at the end of a praise party, then that is their way of saying ‘thank you’. They would feel hurt and rejected if you stopped them. It’s not as if you seek it. Our vicar’s daughter uses to throw herself at my husband, who was her children’s group leader, every time he walked through the church door. Her mother found it embarrassing but didn’t object. Now that the child is 8, she has grown out of it. The Piped Piper thing always wears off eventually. My daughter’s Head teacher once put a 7 year old on her lap during a school concert because the child was getting distressed. As soon as she calmed down, the Head put her back with her classmates. It was appropriate pastoral care. I think that fuss that has been made about this incident in school is entirely out of proportion and I have every sympathy with Rev Barrett. Brenda Lord