In response to Adrian Chiles on travelling to football matches (I saw a poor, lonely man wandering the A4 – then realised the sheer joy of where he was heading, 3 September), our son was volunteering with VSO in Zambia in 1997 and wanted to see the England v Italy match. He hitchhiked for more than a day to the nearest pub showing the match. He wrote to the then manager, Glenn Hoddle, about the experience and was sent a shirt signed by the team. He was able to trade that for football boots for the whole of his school team, who had never before had them.
Liz Strutt
Rottingdean, Brighton and Hove
• Regarding shoplifting (Letters, 4 September), our local Ikea has replaced most staff-manned checkouts with the self-scanning option. On visiting, it was clear that there may have been some flatpack thievery – there was a line of 20 security guards, in paramilitary outfits, all facing the self-service counters. Result: higher staffing costs and a hugely hostile environment for customers.
Graeme Keay
Luxembourg
• I recall the dental service in my 1950s primary school (Letters, 5 September). All the children were seen and a note sent home if anything needed to be done. But I also recall the dentist had a foot-pumped drill on a wheeled stand, like a hospital drip, with which he carried out “minor” procedures without anaesthetic. Those in the queue watched.
Chris Hardy
West Wittering, West Sussex
• Am I the only person who thinks that Nigel Farage’s visit to the US (Report, 3 September) in order to denigrate the UK is disloyal, if not treasonable? Why does no one question him about his patriotism?
Honor Cooper
London
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