Adrian Chiles (22 October) wonders why Beeching never closed the Heart of Wales line. The story goes that his proposal to do so was being nodded through Harold Wilson’s cabinet when George Thomas MP saved it by pointing out that it ran through several marginal constituencies. As a Methodist from childhood, though, Thomas would never have approved of wine being consumed on the line.
Peter Griffith
Droitwich, Worcestershire
• Now that Steve Coogan has agreed to pay damages to an academic misrepresented in the film about the exhumation of Richard III (Report, 27 October), some enterprising spirit medium ought to be able to swing a substantial libel claim on the king’s behalf against the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Bryn Hughes
Wrexham
• In your article about rising food prices, many of the items in the “Ten of the biggest risers” list are meat, chocolate or butter (Money, 25 October). Perhaps this is the kick we need to start eating a more healthy diet?
Jeanette Hamilton
Buxton, Derbyshire
• Rachel Reeves went to Saudi Arabia (Report, 26 October) because, she said, “our number one priority is growth”. And there was I thinking a Labour government’s top priority would be human rights!
Jol Miskin
Sheffield
• Re clock changes (Letters, 28 October), my Yorkshire terrier, Hamish, cannot understand why his morning walk is an hour late, and lets me know vociferously!
Suellen Pedley
Stanford in the Vale, Oxfordshire
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