History relates that George III and his prime minister were out driving near Weymouth and passed a pretentious carriage with many outriders in grand liveries. When the king learned that it belonged to a West Indian, he exclaimed: “Sugar, sugar, hey? All that sugar! How are the duties, hey Pitt, how are the duties?” It was obscenely rich, slave-owning sugar planters like that, including my ancestors, that Pitt had in mind when he included non-dom status in his 1798 act of parliament. It is a relic of the colonial era and has no place in Britain today (‘We’ll end non-dom tax status’ – Miliband, 8 April).
Chris Birch
London
• I have no idea why magazines publish beauty tips to “keep your man” (Ask Hadley, G2, 7 April). None of the men in my experience even notice what you might be wearing. My husband thought jogging bottoms were OK as they are easily removed and when worn out make polishing rags for the car. When we went to a royal garden party and I had made an effort, he looked faintly puzzled and said: “You look nice.” Then a pause: “You’ve got a dress on.” My son is very like his father.
Diana Lord
Cranfield, Bedfordshire
• What became of Virol, which Polly Toynbee recalls from her childhood (7 April)? Malt extract is nice, but nowhere near as delicious. A web search for Virol only finds nostalgic memories from many people who would love to taste it again.
Robin Britcher
Ashford, Kent
• Respect for female teachers (Letters, 8 April) was enforced at my grammar school, the Liverpool Institute. Arriving there in 1947, I quickly conformed to the school rule that required female staff to be addressed always as “sir”.
John Sissons
Ramsey, Isle of Man
• When I taught infants in the 1970s, I was often called “Mum”. When I began to be called “Nan” I thought it was time to retire.
Ivy Alexander
Dorchester, Dorset
