Michael Frayn once wrote about a competition among reporters on the Guardian to include the phrase “women, many with shopping baskets” in as many news stories as possible, whatever the topic. Reading your report of Cilla Black’s funeral (21 August), I think the competition is back: “pensioners making a day of it with flasks and biscuits; shop assistants in tabards; workmen in hard hats and hi-vis ...” The trouble is, I don’t know which of these is the target phrase to look for in other stories.
Karl Sabbagh
Newbold on Stour, Warwickshire
• Your analysis of Rooney’s poor form in the opening games of the season, (Sport, 19 August) overlooks one possible explanation – the player literally isn’t himself, but a sports science academic taking on his persona during August for research purposes (Professor plans to get deep into the mind of David Bowie, 19 August).
Mick Beeby
Bristol
