An article in Saturday’s Review (26 December) quoted Rudyard Kipling’s lines about those responsible for a military disaster in the first world war: “When the storm is ended shall we find / How softly but how swiftly they have sidled back to power / By the favour and contrivance of their kind?” I closed my eyes and thought about the bankers and then I thought about half the cabinet in attendance at Rupert Murdoch’s Christmas party (for a few dozen friends) with Rebekah Brooks holding court. Now tell me, oh wise one, who was Sahib Leveson?
John Gately
Battle, East Sussex
• The wonderful All Aboard! The Sleigh Ride (Watch this, 24 December) left us with many unanswered questions. What was in the brown container on the first sleigh? Where did the fisherman live? At the stopover, what was the drink? We have been asking each other these questions and others from the first viewing, the second viewing instead of answering them caused even more. The best programme this Christmas.
Jim and Rosie Bogg
Seascale, Cumbria
• I fear that David Buckley’s memory is playing tricks (Letters, 26 December). Impressive though it was, it took Northampton 10 seasons to go up and down the divisions. Bristol City did the job properly, plunging from the first to fourth division in successive seasons in the early eighties. I know these things. As a lifelong Luton Town supporter and a member of Gloucestershire County Cricket Club I have become the world’s leading authority on relegation.
John Clark
Bristol
• In my mid-1970s Scottish comprehensive, we informed our classmates that we thought they were talking nonsense by pulling on our imaginary beards and murmuring “chin chin, chin chin” (Letters, 26 December). Nobody mentioned Jimmy Hill, but that was who we meant.
Peter Lowthian
Marlow, Buckinghamshire
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
.jpg?w=600)
