I was reaching for the Saturday Guardian on the newsstand last week when the guy next to me looked at me and said: “Leftwing dangerous rubbish!” I was shocked and angered, but didn’t respond. It bothered me all day, as I felt I should have said something to him. But what? Would any of your readers have any thoughts on this.
Susan Beere
Barrhill, South Ayrshire
• Mr Wells (Letters, 26 December) will be pleased to learn that there are scores of varieties of daffodils, with some blooming as early as Christmas. (Ours, Rijnveld, started flowering on 20 December.) What he so cheerfully observed has nothing to do with the advent of early spring, but with the splendid decision of the local authorities.
Dr CM Posner
Lavenham, Suffolk
• When I saw the photo of WHS (WH Smith’s ‘WHS’ rebrand criticised for similarity to NHS logo, 27 December), I thought it was a rebrand of our National Health Service to Wrecked Health Service. It would be a more accurate description under this government.
Barry Norman
Drighlington, West Yorkshire
• Re your report (Strong R sound of some Lancashire accents in danger of dying out, 28 December), I spent my childhood in the Rossendale valley, though as a posh mill-owner’s son. The exaggerated R is part of the lip-reading tradition that grew up in noisy weaving sheds.
Keith Barnes
Frome, Somerset
• It’s reported (25 December) that Charles III is to give a knighthood to Justin Welby. King knights bishop? Check.
Colin Parish
Muswell Hill, London
• I’ve always thought that Ethel Smyth’s stirring song The March of the Women would make a wonderful national anthem (Letters, 27 December).
Bob Elbert
London
• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
