'Elvis changed music forever - how can he be ignored?'

They have gone beyond the pale, though, with one of their latest offerings, Icons.In the latest episode on 20th Century icons of entertainment, they have ignored the icon of that period, Elvis Presley, in favour of David Bowie. While I admire Bowie’s work, he is basically just a gifted pop star, not the king of rock and roll. Elvis’ debut in the mid 1950s invoked a seismic event in culture and the youth of the world and changed music forever.At the same time he became the world’s biggest selling solo recording artist, equalled only by the Beatles who, incidentally, are also ignored and their status far outstrips Bowie’s.In a word, unbelievable.David GibbsAddress supplied

Holocaust Memorial DayThis January, at more than 11,000 events across the country, hundreds of thousands of people will gather to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day (January 27).Holocaust Memorial Day is a time to remember all those affected by the Holocaust and Nazi Persecution, as well as genocides which have taken place more recently in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. As well as remembering what happened, we also find ways to take positive action and make sure they can never happen again.The Holocaust threatened the fabric of civilisation and has implications for us all. Without a basic understanding of this recent history, we are in danger of failing to learn where a lack of respect for difference and hostility to others can ultimately lead. With a rise in reported hate crime in the UK and ongoing international conflicts at risk of genocide, our world can feel fragile and vulnerable. We cannot be complacent.Each of us has a responsibility to know what happened. Thankfully, more people than ever before are taking part in our annual commemorations to learn lessons from genocide and help create a better future.For more information on how you can get involved with this year’s events, go to www.hmd.org.uk Olivia Marks-Woldman Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust Join Morocco trek for charityWe’d like to invite any of your readers looking for an adventure to join the Meningitis Now team on a trek in the beautiful Atlas mountains of Morocco.By taking on this challenge, you will not only have an exciting trip to a stunning region of the world but also help us fight meningitis in the UK and move us ever nearer to our vision of a future where no one dies from the disease and everyone affected gets the support they need. Sadly, meningitis and septicaemia continue to affect thousands of people in the UK each year and kill more under-fives than any other infectious disease. Help us fight back by funding research, raising awareness and supporting survivors. The four-day Morocco trek will require a reasonable degree of fitness and determination and will include summiting Mount Toubkal, which is the highest peak in the Atlas Mountains. Toubkal is easily reached from Marrakesh and offers striking high-altitude mountain scenery, lush valleys and untouched Berber communities.Fancy joining us? The trek is scheduled for September 7-9 and you can find out more by emailing [email protected] or call me on 01453 769024.Michaela IlfillMeningitis Now