How wonderful that the National Crime Agency is to investigate corruption surrounding the Stephen Lawrence case a mere 22 years after the event (Report, 17 October). Perhaps it should start by reading Private Eye as it outlined the allegations of corruption and named those accused within weeks of the murder. I predict nobody will face prosecution.
Philip Clayton
London
• I can corroborate Peter Bradshaw’s story of Ted Hughes’ coldness (My week, 17 October). He came to a comprehensive school where I was working, many years ago, to speak to the children, and when I asked him in the staffroom how it had gone, he was well satisfied. “I read them my poem about cutting a calf’s head off in an impossible calving,” he said, “and a girl had to go out and be sick.” Know how she felt.
Alison Prince
Whiting Bay, Isle of Arran
• I was agreeably surprised to learn of the hospitality enjoyed by Ian Jack (17 October) at his uncle’s Edinburgh bungalow. Local legend back in my native Glasgow insists that the customary greeting on visiting an Edinburgh home is “Of course you will have had your tea hours ago!”
Ian MacDonald
Leicester
• Congratulations on your report on the game between Tottenham and Liverpool (Sport, 19 October) for managing not to mention the home team. At all. At least you mentioned Bournemouth in passing – once – in your report of their game against Manchester City.
Revd Dr Peter Phillips
Swansea
• Just two “brief” letters on Saturday and apparently none on Monday. Is this accidental, a change of policy or don’t people write short, pithy, clever and humorous letters any more?
Ron Brewer
Old Buckenham, Norfolk
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