John Crace says he hasn’t seen any coronation merchandise on sale (Digested week, 7 April). Perhaps he hasn’t visited his local WH Smith? In the branch here in Norwich, there’s an entire shelf of coronation stationery, pens, notebooks etc. Been there for months. Though it doesn’t look like it’s selling.
James Cassidy
Norwich
• My brother-in-law intends to open up his swimming pool for the season on 6 May. As this will involve a certain amount of preparation and cleansing, he has invited us all over for a chlorination party. I can’t decide whether to go as, now Meghan is not attending, I could be available to make up the numbers at the Abbey.
Peter Russell
Tunbridge Wells, Kent
• Fascinating article about coincidences (The long read, 13 April). That day also marked 53 years since my father’s funeral, and one of the answers in the quick crossword was “blunderbuss”. My father’s nickname was Blunderbuss, usually shortened by his brothers to “Buss”. What are the chances of that coincidence, I wonder?
Sarah Akhtar
Stoke-on-Trent
• It was DuPont’s invention of Lycra, therefore enabling the manufacture of tights, that made Mary Quant’s miniskirts possible (Fashion designer Dame Mary Quant dies aged 93, 13 April).
Gillian Bassett
Great Barford, Bedfordshire
