It was good to read David Kynaston’s appreciation of Juliet Gardiner’s writing, so widely admired (Juliet Gardiner obituary, 14 July). The school we both attended, leading to a lifelong friendship, failed to recognise her talent. On the bus together one morning, Juliet let me read her latest piece of homework: 11 strikingly imaginative pages about the stone effigies of knights in St Peter’s church, Berkhamsted. At the end I found her teacher’s only comment: “This essay is too long.”
Ann Segrave, Lewes, East Sussex
England’s World Cup Hope
I was 18 in 1966. As the fourth goal for England went in against West Germany, after he’d leapt from his seat my dad said, “watch this, you’ll never see it in your lifetime again”. I fear he might have been right. I’m also reminded of Brian Clough’s quote: “We were the best team on paper – unfortunately we played on grass.” Looking forward to the Euros now. Hope springs eternal.
Chris Walters, Buxton, Derbyshire
DIY Spirits
Tim Dowling (I do have principles. Rule one is to avoid DIY at all costs, 11 July) would have found a kindred spirit in my father, who always said: “DIY means don’t involve yourself.”
Jane Imrie, Collingham, Nottinghamshire
Slang
Your letter writer (14 July) asks if “shrammed” is now redundant. I still use it in Bristol. And “spreethed”, meaning chapped. Perhaps with warmer winters such words will go the way of the dodo.
Jane Ghosh, Bristol
