It’s going to be UK city of culture in 2021, but Stephen Battersby has happy memories of the Lanchester arts festival in the 1960s

John Green refers to Coventry’s cultural history since the second world war (Letters, 11 December) but omits to mention one aspect of the city’s history. As a student there at the end of the 60s and early 70s, a great highlight was Lanchester arts festival every February, when it was possible to go to poetry readings, listen to Pentangle in the cathedral, and then, if you couldn’t get tickets to get in, sit on the cathedral steps to hear the Who playing in the Lanchester Poly student union (now Coventry University). Ronnie Scott’s club would move up for a night too. With Warwick University and the arts centre there and Coventry University right next to the cathedral, the city has plenty of history that can justify its selection as UK city of culture 2021.

Dr Stephen Battersby

Surbiton, Surrey

• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com

• Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters