Atomisation of society under a chemist prime minister
Mike Ellwood (Letters, 18 October) recommends selecting our leaders by degree subject, choosing from those, for example, who “understand the molecular structure of vitamin C or soap”. The prime minister who served the longest continuous term since the Earl of Liverpool did have such a degree, which might explain the atomisation initiated by the policies she pursued from 1979 to 1990.Jeremy WaxmanLondon
• Twenty years ago I took parties of schoolchildren to Epidaurus several times and we thoroughly tested the acoustics with whispers (by our teaching staff), which were clearly audible all over the theatre (Ancient Greek theatre’s claims prove unsound,
17 October). On one visit my
whole party sang the Welsh national anthem, which resounded around the theatre and was applauded by all the other tourists. I recited Robert Browning’s Oh to Be in England and my colleague declaimed some ancient Greek, but it was Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau which brought the house down! Sadly, on a recent visit the guide would not let us test the acoustics, claiming it would damage the theatre.Maggie CainenSwansea
• One of the things we learned at art college in London, in the ceramics department, was that huge terracotta amphoras were placed under the stages in Greek theatre to act as ancient amplifiers, so perhaps this was also part of the acoustic “magic”?Jutka Fischer(ceramicist)Budapest, Hungary
• I sympathise with Brian Simpson’s call for bar and restaurant furniture to be fitted with coplanar feet (Letters, 17 October), but surely the simplest solution is to use threelegged tables and stools, which are self-levelling on all surfaces.Richard LeeLeigh-on-Sea, Essex
• Paddington Bear had the right idea. Saw around the legs until you have a coffee table.Jean JacksonSeer Green, Buckinghamshire
• Like many comedians, Sean Hughes had a gloomy side. I wonder if his support of Crystal Palace, not mentioned in his obituary (17 October), exacerbated this disposition.Michael CunninghamWolverhampton
• Join the debate – emailguardian.letters@theguardian. com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters