Grania Langdon-Down’s interview with the first female president of the Association of District Judges, Edwina Millward, made interesting reading (see [2009] Gazette, 12 February, 14).

However, one quote cannot be left unchecked: ‘Women have the babies and why have them if you are never going to be there for them?’ Perhaps the judge should accompany Prince Harry on his equality education training. Men have babies too and yet such comments are never made about them. This shows the uphill struggle women still have in law, when assumptions are made that we all want to go home and bake cakes; only want to work part-time hours; and are not interested in full-time work.

In fact, many of us are more than happy to work full-time while also being parents. Full-time work has worked well for me and my family of five children over the last 24 years. Those who foolishly did give up work to rely on a spouse’s income are finding that, as their partners are made redundant, they have risked their family’s future well-being by the poor risk management of giving up their own earning potential.

Susan Singleton, Singletons, Pinner