Readers’ Letters

The Oldie, 23–31 Great Titchfield Street, London, W1W 7PA letters@theoldie.co.uk To sign up for our e-newsletter, go to www.theoldie.co.uk

Born in the USA

SIR: David Horspool writes (December issue) of Presidents’ Day in the USA.

As Adlai Stevenson once said, ‘In America, anybody can be president. That’s one of the risks you take.’ Yours, Bob Frost, Deal, Kent

Controlled happiness

SIR: Sister Teresa’s recalling (December issue) a naval joke about the correct attitude at a sailor’s funeral, one of ‘subdued joy’, is delightful.

It reminds me of a collection of choral arrangements of classic popular songs, In the Mood, used occasionally by the choir I sing with, where the performance instruction for Tea for Two is ‘with controlled happiness’. Michael Rodgers, Lower Heyford, Oxfordshire

Radio 4’s comic moment

SIR: As usual, I enjoyed Valerie Grove’s Radio column (December issue), but can I be the 94th person to point out that the bloke in the Private Eye cartoon actually said, ‘Come quick! Bernardine Evaristo isn’t on Radio 4!’

Valerie missed out the Radio 4 bit – a shame, because it would have chimed rather well with the rest of her engaging piece. All best, Matt Phillips, London W6

Boris’s seating plan

SIR: Just to add a note of support to Stephen Glover on the now historic Garrick Club dinner. This was, as he says, an ebullient reunion of over 30 Telegraph leader-writers which had been planned many months in advance.

On the night, I was seated next to Charles Moore and diagonally opposite Boris Johnson (and, indeed, directly opposite the editor of this magazine) and can testify that not a word was exchanged on the subject of climate change. The conversation, as is usually the way at such gatherings, consisted entirely of jocular reminiscence and gossip. Very enjoyable evening it was, too. Yours, Janet Daley, Barnet

Normans conquered

SIR: I read with interest the Last of the Nigels article by Nigel Pullman (December issue).

But what of the Normans? My best friend is a Norman (b 1952). I know of no other! Yours respectfully, Graham Sherwood, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Thank ’eaven for Maurice

SIR: Re Nigel Pullman’s article about names (December issue) – I guess how I got mine. 1928: parents marry. 1929: fun in Paris. Merci, M Chevalier! Maurice Dybeck, Kirkby Lonsdale, Cumbria

Folk memories

SIR (I see you are still Sir): Why on earth does the Rev Steven Morris (Olden Life, December) consider the choice of Folk Song in Britain an odd choice for an Observer’s book in a series designed largely for children? One of the few pleasant memories I have of life at a dreaded prep school (1944-47) is of the weekly community singing.

It included such treats as The Vicar of Bray, The Golden Vanity, Weel May the Keel Row and The Girl I Left Behind Me; from Ireland, The Minstrel Boy and Let Erin Remember; and from Wales, All Through the Night and The Ash Grove; all to be found in the New National Song Book.

After these sessions, the general level of brutality and anxiety in the atmosphere dropped appreciably for a time. Wouldn’t schools in the state sector find this helpful?

As in modern pop songs, it is the rhythm that counts, far more than the words. But in the older ones there is melody as well. Yours faithfully, John Jolliffe, Frome, Somerset

The Dying Soldier: WWI window at St Mary Magdalene, Enfield

Lest we forget

SIR: Your piece by the estimable Lucinda Lambton (October issue) unfortunately contained an error. The penultimate paragraph wrongly names the church on Windmill Hill, Enfield, which is actually called St Mary Magdalene.

It also mentions a mournful First World War window. I believe it is worth seeing – so I attach a picture [above]. Best wishes, Alan Urie, Enfield EN3

Turkish delights

SIR: Bill Knott’s article on raki (December issue) reminded me of a time in the 1970s when I worked in Turkey. This was before tourism blossomed there, and outsiders were still regarded with curiosity by many.

I soon gained a taste for raki. Bill writes that ‘raki is famous for provoking good conversation’ and so it proved when my wife joined me in Istanbul, for a short break.

‘Mother says, “Tell Harold to get lost” – bless her, she always remembers you!’

On our first evening together, we visited a restaurant that served local fare and I introduced her to the drink and the accompanying meze. We attracted attention not only for being foreigners but also because of my wife’s blonde hair.

A sea captain and his father at a neighbouring table duly engaged us in conversation and commented on how pleased they were to see an English woman drinking raki. We continued talking over travel, world events and many other things throughout the evening until they departed.

At the end of the meal, I asked for our bill and the waiter said that it had been paid for – ‘by your two friends’.

Yet another success for raki?

Bill mentions ayran, a ‘salty yoghurt drink’. That is a lovely beverage but, as I found, drinking too much of it – with delicious pastries – does add thickness to one’s girth.

I also grew to like mutton tripe soup for breakfast, but my wife did not find that appealing at all and it had to stop.

I return to the incident in the restaurant. It is a fact that, during my time working in that wonderful country, I found the Turkish people to be the most perfect of hosts throughout my stay.

I’ll drink to the memories. Yours faithfully, Alan Castree, Fetcham, Surrey

Co-optimism

SIR: Thank you, Liz Hodgkinson, for ‘Confessions of a Co-op snob’ (November issue).

I am 92 years old, born in a Yorkshire mill town. Family funerals were always Co-op funerals. Any new clothes I was lucky enough to get were bought at the Co-op annual sales.

My grandmother would send me on errands to the local branch: ‘Ask for Mr Bentley’ (the manager).

The divi number is still embedded in my mind after all these years: 22208. Freda Morgan, Sydney, Australia

Why fat people are fat

SIR: How right Dr Dalrymple is (December issue) when he promotes exercise as the first measure for those who are carrying too much embonpoint. Everyone benefits from getting fitter, and the fitness element does neutralise some of the ill effects of the fatness. However, this is easier said than done.

Being overweight (with a BMI between 25 and 30) is no great threat, with only slight increases in morbidity and mortality compared with those of normal weight. Overweight individuals do gain from exercising more. As Dr D says, they probably won’t lose much weight, but they will live longer.

Being obese (BMI over 30), however, does matter, becoming exponentially more dangerous as BMI rises. The obese would be wise to lose weight if they can, particularly if they are diabetic – but it is extremely difficult. The best approach is both to diet and to exercise.

Exercise on its own needs to be hard, the equivalent of running 15 miles a week or more. Exercise is not readily adopted by the obese, which is why most of the obese are obese. As a result, only about four per cent of obese people can be classed as fat and fit.

A big problem is self-deception due to so-called social-desirability bias. People eat about 50 per cent more than they say, and exercise about 50 per cent less than they believe.

Similarly, perception of obesity is very inaccurate, with only ten per cent of obese subjects recognising their own obesity. Studies of perception of physical fitness have shown no relationship at all between perceived fitness and actual fitness level.

Losing weight requires strong motivation and great self-discipline – and motivation requires an acceptance of reality. Obese people are unlikely to be motivated if they do not see themselves as obese, and unfit people will not be motivated to take up exercise if they consider themselves to be fit.

As I said, easier said than done. I am etc, Hugh Bethell MD FRCP, Alton, Hampshire

‘My husband will never guess my password – it’s our anniversary’