Party Seven all round

sir – The Party Seven (Letters, March 22) was an essential tool for gaining entry to student parties. Once in, the key was to hide it and retain its contents exclusively for personal use.

We once put ours into an oven, not realising that it also contained cold sausage rolls. When it was turned on to heat them up the result was disastrous. Nick Kester

Wattisfield, Suffolk

sir – There were plenty of novelty promotional key rings back in the Sixties (Letters, March 21).

The one most favoured by petrolheads was the teardrop green Duckhams Q 20/50 key ring. Mine is still in daily use after many years. Peter Alexander

Fleet, Hampshire

sir – Roy Ward’s letter (March 20) on the obligation in his regiment to carry the Watneys Red Barrel key ring at all times reminded me of the Hastings Winkle Club. Members of this historic fishermen’s charity carry a winkle shell to be shown when challenged to “winkle up”. Failure means a fine paid to charity.

When Churchill was honoured with membership he received a gold winkle, now displayed at his family home, Chartwell. I wonder whether he was ever challenged to “winkle up”. Peter Saunders

Salisbury, Wiltshire