I have not shed any tears during the pandemic – not for the mawkish sentimentality around “celebrity” deaths or “heroes”, but I shed a great many reading the first-hand experience of Dr Rachel Clarke and her colleagues (‘I’ve been called Satan’: Dr Rachel Clarke on facing abuse in the Covid crisis, 6 February). A moving and beautiful piece of writing that deserves to be read out every day on the media.
Jackson Kingham
Poole, Dorset
• The admirable man who rowed across the Atlantic (Grandfather becomes oldest person to row 3,000 miles solo across Atlantic, 7 February) surely does not need to be referred to as a grandfather? I doubt a 40-year-old who performed the same feat would be so described. Ageism indeed!
Michael Wild
Postbridge, Devon
• Elton John (I learned by touring Europe in the 60s. Young artists need the same chance, 7 February) says: “We [musicians] should set up a support organisation.” Surely the Musicians’ Union should be protecting the livelihood of its members and becoming involved in negotiations?
Tony Bell
Fulham, London
• No surprise that Matt Hancock is taking his cues from Contagion (How Matt Hancock’s obsession with Matt Damon film drove UK’s vaccine strategy, 2 February). I just wish the rest were not basing theirs on Carry On films.
Rahul Desai
London
• Never mind the first cuckoo heralding spring, we had the first cricketers in the park on Saturday.
Graham Warren
Coventry
