Britain can take it

sir – Comparisons between the social implications of the Covid-19 crisis and the Second World War prompted me to look in my late mother’s bookcase to find Britain Can Take It, the book of the film directed by Humphrey Jennings and Harry Watt. A photographic record in aid of the homeless, it has commentary by the war correspondent Quentin Reynolds.

The final stirring sentences of the commentary text are: “A bomb has its limitations. It can only destroy buildings and kill people. It cannot kill the unconquerable spirit and courage of the people of Britain.” Alicia Denny

Bosham, West Sussex

sir – I hear much talk of people pulling together. I see only people stockpiling together. Alan Sabatini

Bournemouth, Dorset

sir – On Thursday a flier was posted though our door offering all kinds of free help to those in need in our community.

Mickleton Helpers volunteers, we salute you. You put the scammers and profiteering stockpilers to shame. We hope this idea spreads throughout the country.

Gill and Doug Stormont

Mickleton, Gloucestershire

sir – There are more than 500,000 teachers in Britain. The skeleton attendance at schools will probably only require 20 per cent of those as child care supervisors, meaning that 400,000 will be unoccupied for many months.

This national resource should be conscripted to do whatever suitable tasks are needed in this emergency, whether that is supporting NHS staff or driving delivery vehicles. Graham Hoyle

Shipley, West Yorkshire