My wife and I were due to travel to England this week and were planning to drive first to Brighton where we have relatives. However, the volcano in Iceland has put paid to our visit.

We were booked to stay at the Brighton Wave hotel in Madeira Place for three nights and, although we were unable to give the requested 72 hours’ notice of cancellation, the proprietor kindly waived the cancellation charges.

I am sure that many in the hospitality industry will suffer some temporary pain as a result of this unprecedented situation, but it is good to know that not everybody is motivated by purely financial considerations.

This is what will ensure that we and thousands like us will return as soon as things get back to normal.

Richard Patterson, Victoria, Australia