Reading Frank Field’s call for an action programme against destitution (Letters, 11 July) put me in mind of the experience of my own great-grandmother who, when widowed and left with three very young daughters in Birkenhead in 1903, was very much helped by handouts from Charles Thompson’s Mission. Only a few days ago that very same Mission was appealing on behalf of young mothers in the town who can’t afford formula milk for their babies. Those three children had every reason to expect that the postwar settlement would do away with such poverty.
Christine Verguson
Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
• So sorry to hear that Hannah J Davies found the Wireless festival “devoid of any atmosphere away from the acts” (The critics, 11 July). Perhaps she should have come to the residential streets south of Finsbury Park. We had plenty of atmosphere provided by the roaming groups of drunks, drug dealers, pavement scooter drivers, beer-can kickers, garden pissers and police helicopters. Three nights, all night. That’s all the atmosphere anyone could want.
Barry Jackson
London
• Some years ago at the NUT conference an American guest warned us “Beware of those who say that they have nothing but respect for teachers: that is precisely what they mean” (May under fire as teacher pay rise held at 1%, 10 July).
Ted Truscoe
Assistant secretary, Surrey NUT
• I like your optimism: “Konta three wins away from greatness” (Front-page headline, 11 July). What next: “Greens 325 seats away from forming government”?
Richard Wood
Toddington, Bedfordshire
• In the 50s and 60s in Northumberland, my lovely aunt made us mince on toast (Talking mince, G2, 11 July). She served it “posh” with two tiny triangles of toast stuck on top. We loved it and still do.
Jean Jackson
Seer Green, Buckinghamshire
• Why are English strawberries so very good this year? I, for one, am delighted.
David Hurry
Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex
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