Last month I flew into London for a weekend visit to London to celebrate my son’s 30th birthday. I used the buses to get to Caledonian Road, where I foolishly left my handbag at a bus stop. This bag had my wallets, credit cards, passport everything.

Imagine my surprise, after a couple of frantic hours, I was finally informed that it had been found and handed in to Islington police station. A kind lady had found it and took the trouble to take it to the station. Later that night I got my bag back, with everything in its place.

But what is more important, is that lady reinforced my belief that acts of altruism make life more enjoyable.

– Patricia Toland, via e-mail.