The 1983 Conservative party poster comparing the election manifestos of the Labour party and the Communist party (The hard sell, G2, 12 February) wasn’t referring to the Soviet Union, but to Britain’s own Communist party, which was founded in 1920. That party is putting up candidates in this year’s general election and has remained true to its principles. I wish I could say the same for Labour.
Pierre Marshall
Oxford
• The model Esther Addley describes for retirement housing (Old friends pioneer new model for retirement homes, 16 February) is an interesting and a welcome one. However, there is nothing new about it. In common with many almshouses the length and breadth of the country, we at St Nicholas hospital in Salisbury have been “pioneering” it for centuries. This year we celebrate the 800th anniversary of the first written reference to our residential community in a charter as old as Magna Carta.
Rev Canon Michael Goater
Master, St Nicholas hospital, Salisbury
• Don McLean cleared up the meaning of his song American Pie years ago (Report, 14 February). When asked in an interview what the song meant, he said: “It means I’ll never have to work another day for the rest of my life unless I want to.”
Ken Shifrin
Oxford
• One possible reason that there are fewer working-class authors (Letters, 12 February) is that there are fewer, if any, modestly priced local-authority evening classes like those available in the 1970s and 80s. No aspiring working-class author could afford the fees for the courses recently advertised in the Guardian.
David Selby
South Wonston, Hampshire
• The builder was wrong: there are four certainties in life (Letters, 16 February). The fourth is the builder going off to another job before yours is finished.
Pete Bibby
Sheffield
• My last pun letter didn’t get published; this one did (Letters, passim). You Wymondham, you lose some.
Jonathan Clayden
Stockport
