Nursed back to health on a dose of Guinness

sir – In 1971 when I was in hospital with severe stomach problems and unable to eat solid foods, the night nurses came back every evening with two bottles of Guinness for me (Letters, May 30).

It must have worked because I am still here.

John Frankel

Newbury, Berkshire

sir – In 1966 while recovering from having my tonsils removed, I was in a mixed ward of geriatric patients and adult ear, nose and throat patients.

A delightful nurse came round with a tray of bottles of Guinness for the oldies. Delivering the last bottle, on finding the patient had died, she turned and offered it to me.

I will never forget the pain of the Guinness making contact with the raw wounds at the back of my throat. Bernard Kerrison

London SW4

sir – In the 1950s, I had a holiday job as a hospital porter. One of the tasks was to take the drug trolleys around the wards. On the ward for bronchitis patients, invariably the most frequently dispensed item was Mackeson Stout.

Dr Stephen Humphreys

London NW11

sir – When I was a junior brewer at Tower Bridge we were encouraged to give blood at Guy’s Hospital just down the road.

We jogged there, gave blood as fast as we could and received our reward – a bottle of John Courage donated by our employers. Then it was back to the mash tun to brew some more.

Angus Mitchel

Coryates, Dorset

sir – When our first child was born in hospital in Bath, various friends came to visit mother and child – and brought Guinness with them.

During their visit, they managed to drink it all.

Tony Scofield

Glastonbury, Somerset