Ethangate rumbles on. Yesterday, Cllr Ethan Jones resigned from the town council. Let's take a look at Jones's resignation letter.
Once upon a time, if you had a beef, you composed a letter to the local newspaper. Because of the effort required, your correspondence was usually considered, crafted, formal and, often, it took courage. There were basic rules of writing a letter and if you didn't follow them, the newspaper editor would do his job and edit for you. Nowadays, you can bung something on social media at a moment's notice and it's all rather informal.
What tickled me most about Jones's letter was his final word 'Regards'. Now, the word 'regards' is often used in emails before signing off. Here, as is seemingly now the case, it has transferred to a formal letter. 'Regards' suggests respect or concern and, if you read Jones's letter, there is none of that for the town council. After a full page of attack, the use of 'Regards' is almost the opposite of Jones's own intent.
After such a stinger of a letter, it seems incongruous to wish his recipients well.
How would I have finished Jones's letter? Simply by following convention by using Yours sincerely or, if addressed Dear Madam (the mayor), Yours faithfully. This is a polite formula in concluding formal letters such as this. It avoids the complication of well-wishing when you don't actually mean it.
Not that Jones started off with 'Dear Madam' or Dear Anyone.