Regarding Natasha Walter’s article (To create a buzz, go online. To create real change, protest, 8 June). I was at Yarl’s Wood on 6 June with a friend, and can confirm that what Natasha says is exactly the feeling we had. We too were excited to see coach after coach of protesters arriving and to be part of such a wonderful group of people from the mixture of backgrounds, ages and experiences that are the British today, gathered together. The moment she describes, when the women locked up responded to us, was very moving and reduced us to tears. It was very hard to leave them there.
Rowena Dawson
Kegworth, Leicestershire
• Thanks for the useful article on food pronunciation (G2, 11 June), but I note there’s no definitive answer on “scone”.
Terry Day
Ilford, Essex
• Harry Venning’s laugh-out-loud Clare cartoon (Society, 10 June) neatly illustrates George Monbiot’s serious theme about our failure to understand what it is to be a child and to listen (Opinion, 10 June). So, Abigails of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your parents’ absurd aspirations for you.
Deirdre Mason
London
• Quick Crossword (11 June), 2 down: “Injection of anaesthetic into spinal cord” – Epidural. Midwives and anaesthetists have spent years explaining the risks and advantages of epidural pain relief to mothers who often fear that the injection is “into the spinal cord”. Just when people have grasped the idea that an epidural goes into the spinal column but carefully avoids the spinal cord, your crossword perpetuates the myth. Oh well, back to work.
Dr John Davies
Consultant anaesthetist (retired), Lancaster
• Please reinstate the daily poem. It’s been one of the few bits of good news in the paper since the general election.
Mick Sheahan
Ely, Cambridgeshire
• Robin elected national bird with only 34% of the vote (Report, 11 June). Typical. Even the government got more than that.
Donald Simpson
Rochdale
