So Dominic Watt’s research team at York University claim to have discovered 30 lost English words, amongs which is “slug-a-bed” (Opinion, 15 September)? Would this be the same “lost” word used in Blackadder II, wherein the titular character played by Rowan Atkinson rouses the Bishop of Bath and Wells from his drugged slumber with “Wakey, wakey, Bish. You clerics really are slug-a-beds”?

Mark Boyle

Johnstone, Renfrewshire

• David Williams’s suggestion (Letters, 18 September) that the best meeting comprises one person brings to mind the late Greek shipping billionaire Stavros Niarchos. Asked for the ideal number of people for a dinner party, he replied: “Two – myself and a damn good head waiter.”

John Cahillane

Washington DC, USA

• Thanks, Andrea Hosker (Letters, 18 September), for alerting me just in time that I had unaccountably missed Nancy Banks-Smith’s latest month in Ambridge. I would have had to search the recycling depot otherwise.

Janet Barclay

Ripon, North Yorkshire

• The world of ornithology provides rich pickings from which to select meeting attendees (Letters, 19 September). The meeting is convened by the baldpate who is a bit of a pratincole. There is a tattler having a grouse with the chatterer. Meanwhile the thrasher is having a chat with the loon. And don’t forget the diver. The secretary bird is keeping notes.

Tony Bond

Leigh, Lancashire

• Regarding modern entertaining hymns (Letters, 19 September), for an ecumenical service what could be more suitable than They don’t make Jews like Jesus anymore by the gloriously-named Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys?

John Collins

Nottingham

• Re fake gnus (Letters, 18 September). It appears that Matt Robb has been thinking outside the boks.

Chris Osborne

Nottingham

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