The two Russians alleged to have carried out the Salisbury poisonings say they came as tourists to see the historic cathedral and the oldest clock in the world, and seem bemused to be the centre of such a fuss (Report, 14 September). Can I suggest that the mayor of Salisbury sends them a cordial invitation to return as guests of the city, pointing out that in their hurry they missed a visit to Stonehenge and also open day at Porton Down. He would also enjoy serving them tea in his parlour, and giving police protection on their visit.
Anna Ford
London
• I was intrigued that the wonderful Walter Schwarz (Obituary, 12 September) could continue working for the Guardian after eating too many hash cakes to conduct an interview in the early 70s. I’d understood such tolerance was an exclusive perk for Peace News journalists of that era, as some recompense for our Gandhi-scale wages.
Albert Beale
London
• Re ignorance of Northern Ireland (Report, 8 September), a delegation of London local councillors on a visit to Belfast in the 1970s were told the following story by a Stormont civil servant: a new minister was shown a map which used colours to delineate different sectarian groups in Belfast. “What group lives in the blue area?” asked the minister. “That, minister,” replied the civil servant, “is the sea.”
Tom Carter
London
• Inspired by the campaign to get us to have two alcohol-free days a week (Report, 14 September), I wondered if we might try a couple of Brexit-free days each week too? Who knows, we might discover we don’t need it as much as we thought.
Susan Tomes
Edinburgh
• Now that Lucy Mangan’s parents have found a voice (Letters, passim), can we expect to hear from Tim Dowling’s wife?
Catherine Thompson
London
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