I was very moved by Owen Jones’s article about grief (12 May). Partly for personal reasons (Owen’s father was my much-loved first cousin, Rob) and also because Owen’s sentiments apply to all or many of us. Rob and I, both only children, both bilingual when young in Welsh and English, were close. We shared many beliefs. He worked tirelessly for a better world. His legacy will, I’m sure, be continued by his wife and children. Owen’s remarks about cancer will I hope give solace to other families. Surviving cancer is a matter of luck and early diagnosis. Sadly Rob didn’t have either.
Maureen Birch
Newcastle upon Tyne
• Any other country calling itself a democracy that has the prime minister putting her friends into the political arena to vote for her legislation would be seen as corrupt. Not here, though (May names new peers to boost party in Lords, 19 May).
Richard Bryant-Jefferies
Epsom, Surrey
• I suggest that Cumbrian Grace Dent has a gentle word with Felicity Cloake about Cumberland sausage. Felicity’s barbecue winner (Feast, 19 May) bears no resemblance to the real thing, in shape or flavour. There’s nothing like a genuine Cumberland, in its coiled glory, to be the star of any barbecue.
Janet Mansfield
Aspatria, Cumbria
• It was said of the notorious oyster poisoning cases in the early 1900s (G2, 15 May) that only the teetotallers were poisoned. I’ve borne that in mind throughout 60 years of healthy and enjoyable oyster eating.
Geoff Morris
Cambridge
• Legal & General’s “Girl Fund” (Report, 18 May), intended to combat the gender gap, must be the definition of one step forwards, two steps back.
Ria Hopkinson (36-year-old “girl”)
London
• Was the resolution of the RCN to decriminalise cannabis for medicinal purposes a joint one (Report, 16 May)?
Michael Cunningham
Wolverhampton
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