I visited the British Museum just before Christmas with my sister, niece and nephew who were visiting from Australia. Having long been a fan of Neil MacGregor’s work (Charlotte Higgins, 8 January), I took the opportunity to tell him so when we bumped into him at the entrance. He was so friendly and pleasant, took time to tell us of a future exhibition featuring Australia, and seemed genuinely pleased to chat. It was the icing on the cake of a lovely day in London.
Vanessa Allen
Beckenham, Kent
• Ironic that David Cameron should warn of “the dangers to future generations if the country fails to deal with its debts” (Report, 12 January) when his government has conspicuously failed to meet its own targets on deficit and debt reduction. Doubly ironic that he makes no mention of the rise in personal indebtedness due to the fall in living standards over which he’s presided and the consequent threat to the economy posed by the impact of the inevitable eventual rise in interest rates.
Jeremy Beecham
Labour, House of Lords
• Re school exclusions (Report, 7 January): we need to do it to protect children from “merely” having their education wrecked day after day by children who need a different, therapeutic setting. Imagine your child in that class and think about the use of “merely”. Then imagine writing a balanced article with a view from a headteacher. You know where to find me.
Carolyn Roberts
Headteacher, Thomas Tallis school, London
• No matter what the sound system used, totally analogue, or using digital signal processing (analogue to digital – digital to analogue) the result is analogue (Letters, 10 January). What comes out of the speakers are pressure waves that the ears of all animals can pick up. No living being can hear digital music.
Tony Taylor
Victoria BC, Canada
• You didn’t mention the vital role played by HP sauce (Shortcuts, G2, 6 January) in the best hangover breakfast ever - a roll and pie. A mutton pie, that is, hot, in a roll (soft or crispy), with loads of HP. In fact, a great start to any day.
Jackie Heaton
Glasgow
