The tears shed by the crowd at Carole King’s Hyde Park concert were not just for the evocative lyrics of You’ve Got a Friend (Beautiful Tapestry performance finds a 50,000-strong backing choir, 5 July). At a time of great uncertainty, they were a cathartic reaffirmation of all that is good in life and an expression of defiance against those who wish to undermine our tolerant and freedom-loving society. The only downer was a ripoff £7 bratwurst. Thank you, Carole King, for lifting London’s spirits.
Stan Labovitch
Windsor
• Our five-year-old granddaughter came home from school with a letter from the Metropolitan police about hate crime, encouraging anyone who experienced it to report to them (‘Unity events’ held in London after post-Brexit spike in hate crime, 4 July, theguardian.com) Although it was reassuring, it was also sad and shocking that small children in a multi-ethnic primary school should have to bring such letters home.
Alicia Baker
London
• What a shame that in the current centenary commemorations of the Battle of the Somme (A new kind of war memorial: fleeting, human, haunting, Editorial, 4 July), there is so little – indeed any – recognition of the parts played by soldiers who came from the Indian subcontinent, including the 20th Deccan Horse regiment, which was comprised of Hindus, Jains, Muslims and Sikhs.
Colin Hulley
Buxton, Derbyshire
• I have decided to resign. I do not currently have anything to resign from, but I can’t see why this should deter me. Why should only the elite have the opportunity? The noble cause of Brexit has finally made me dare to dream.
Robert Philip
Edinburgh
• I’ve just got back from a fortnight abroad with no TV or internet access. Have I missed anything important?
Geoff Watson
Bristol
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