Thank you. You chose to care

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/06/you-chose-to-care-mandela

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In July 1990, following his release from prison, Nelson Mandela had flown into Britain to begin vital negotiations with the Thatcher government about South Africa's future. The Foreign Office imposed a ban on him speaking publicly on any political matter so as not to prejudice those talks. However, he was allowed to make his first public appearance in Britain at a birthday celebration at Wembley stadium organised to honour him by the Anti-Apartheid Movement. After an ecstatic 20-minute standing and stamping ovation he quietened the 30,000 crowd with that big smile and those long outstretched arms and said: "Thank you. You chose to care." Chris Trude London

• I was one of many who never bought any South African goods from the time Mandela was imprisoned when I was a teenager, to the time he walked free. During those long bitter years when he was called a terrorist, I'm so glad we kept the faith. Olivia Byard Witney, Oxfordshire

• Mention should be made of the South African embassy picket line that City of London Anti-Apartheid maintained for 49 months, 24 hours a day, until Mandela was released. The only day missed was that of the poll tax riot, when we were prevented by the police. Ken Baldry London

• In 1981, Glasgow was the first in the world to award Mandela the Freedom of the City, while Thatcher's people in London were calling him a terrorist. So how should we vote in 2014? It doesn't help that the most moving tribute to Mandela I have heard was by Gordon Brown. Douglas Richardson Edinburgh

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