Your article on biscuits (Crumbs! A history of biscuits in 15 fantastic facts – from flatulence cure to phenomenal fuel, 18 October) mentions the importance of the Huntley and Palmers company in Reading. It might have been worth noting that for many years Reading FC were known as “the Biscuitmen”. The nicknames of many other clubs, of course, reflected the dominant trade or industry of the town. My favourite is Wycombe Wanderers being known as “the Chairboys”.
Michael Cunningham
Wolverhampton
• I worked at the Huntley and Palmers factory during university vacations in the 1960s. The tins in which the biscuits were packed could be quite ornate and were made by the Reading firm of Huntley, Bourne and Stephens, founded in the 1830s. Their work set new standards for design and production and examples are to be found in Reading museum.
Dr Peter Phillips
Swansea
• Your article reminded me of my childhood in the second world war. I was born in Newtown, Reading, a district where many employees of the biscuit factory resided. Each worker received a 1lb bag of broken biscuits each week. Many households found this excessive. Our family were very grateful to receive an “overflow” from our neighbours!
Anthony Harris
St Albans
• Perhaps if Manchester changed its name to Serco, the government would be less niggardly about funds (Chaos and fury as Boris Johnson forces curbs on Greater Manchester, 20 October).
Tom Cannon
Manchester
• In his Sketch (19 October) John Crace asks: “What did Kettering do to deserve a dimmer MP [Philip Hollobone]?” They voted for him.
Joseph Nicholson
Balerno, Edinburgh
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