• In answer to Ray Chenery (Letters, 13 December), Sir Cliff Richard’s late mother really did call him Cliff. He changed his name in 1958 in order to perform at the Regal Ballroom in Ripley, Derbyshire, because he was told by the promoter that he was going to be billed as the Drifters’ frontman, whereas he was previously just billed as part of the group, and he didn’t like his name. Cliff changed his name legally in 1980, but he was known by no name other than Cliff by his family from 1958.
Tracy Hodgkin
Worcester
• I suspect that Sir Cliff Richard’s mum didn’t stop calling him Harry in the same way that Noddy Holder’s mum continued to call him Neville.
Paul Reynolds
Chester
• The one question I can remember from my Cambridge interview 61 years ago (Letters, 13 December) was: “Are you good at sport or are you a weed like me?” This from the senior tutor. I am still trying to think of a good answer.
Kelvin Appleton
Beverley, East Yorkshire
• I took a chubby black marker pen and wrote “Please talk to me” in a thought bubble above my daughter’s head on her 1980s bouncy chair. Hard to ignore (Talk to your child, not your mobile, Letters, 14 December).
Annie Clouston
Barnard Castle, County Durham
• Thank you for pointing out that the Kaiser Chiefs (Ruby anniversary, 14 December) have curated an exhibition “at York art gallery in Yorkshire”. As opposed to York art gallery in, like, Kent?
Max Bell
Thame, Oxfordshire
• Paying extra for parmesan (The cheese story that really grated, G2, 13 December)? That’s nothing. Waitrose cafe now charges an extra £1 if you want a roll and butter with your soup.
Wendy McMullan
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com
• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters
• Do you have a photo you’d like to share with Guardian readers? Click here to upload it and we’ll publish the best submissions in the letters spread of our print edition
