Herbal hurdle

SIR – As a teenager I was delighted to be invited to stay at Truncheons, the home of Mr Justice Melford Stevenson (of Kray twins fame) and Lady Stevenson.

I much enjoyed the stew, although the final morsel proved challenging (Letters, September 16). However, with my father’s exhortation to “eat what’s put before you”, I attacked it with gusto until, amid gales of laughter, I was finally rescued by Lady Stevenson.

It was the bouquet garni.

Philip Barber

Havant, Hampshire

SIR – We always think a dinner party has been successful if at least one guest falls off our front step.

We haven’t had many failures over the past 38 years, but I’m not sure what the local hospital thinks.

Judy Parsley

London W4