Terence Hall is incorrect regarding the lack of success of Blue Streak (Letters, 20 December). It was the grandfather of Black Arrow which launched the British satellite, Prospero, in 1971. We are the only country in the world to put a satellite into orbit and cancel the programme when a politician stated there was no market for small satellites.
Mark Ormiston
Isleworth, Middlesex
• I didn’t see the “Bag lady”/“Homeless woman” Quick crossword (Letters, 21 December) but I did tackle the cryptic for the very same day, where I was asked to accept “sponge” for “beg”. Wrong paper, Paul, and certainly wrong time of year.
Jeremy Ridgman
London
• I can only assume the pub on the Yorkshire/Lancashire border that charged £1 for gravy (Letters, 22 December) was situated in Lancashire but run by a Yorkshireman.
Mike Lowcock
Crewe, Cheshire
• Egypt is in Buckinghamshire, in case anyone’s wondering (Letters, 18 December).
James Baer
London
• Hollywood is in Birmingham.
Linda Gresham
Birmingham
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