I read Mr Bines’ letter (‘What happened to integration?’, Opinion, June 1) with interest. As a Greek-speaking Cypriot born and bred here in London, I wholly welcome the new Greek Orthodox school, and do not see it as hindering social integration one iota.

There has been a flourishing community of Greeks and Greek Cypriots in the UK for many decades, and our integration into our host community has never been an issue, with at least, I dare say, half of our community having been born here. The idea that the Greek community will be “further isolated” by the opening of a Greek Orthodox school is ridiculous. I feel that I must also stress that Archbishop Gregorios’ views are not representative of every member of the Greek community in the UK, and as such cannot possibly give an “insight into many immigrants’ views living in the UK”. To think that they do is ignorant, to say the very least. It’s like saying that Enoch Powell’s views are representative of the English community.

The last time I checked, there were a number of English-orientated schools in the borough, ie St Michael at Bowes Church of England school, St Georges Roman Catholic school, et al, so I can’t see how English people can’t do the same. The English people have had their own faith schools for centuries, it’s up to the individual and their family to make the right choice for them, as to which school they attend. This “multi-cultural utopia” that Mr Bines speaks of will never happen, as long as people still harbour such negative views. Despite having been born, educated and raised here, I still feel like a foreigner here. I’m sure I am not the only one of my community who feels like this. Perhaps it is Mr Bines, and others with similar views, who are feeling isolated, and by maintaining such opinions on their neighbours, perhaps they’re at risk of increasingly isolating and distancing themselves. I hope that my daughter will not have to endure the same experience as I have, and will be intelligent enough to understand that, if we were all the same, the world would be a very boring place.

Angela Savva
Warwick Road, Upper Edmonton