Par Avion

Guernsey Christine Smedley: I greatly enjoyed the spectacular new James Bond film Spectre. It was an amazing showcase for British acting, British automobiles, British technology, British wit, British cinematography, and British songwriting. But whatever happened to great British tailoring? Bond has always been immaculately turned out but Daniel Craig’s suits looked badly cut: they were too tight, they pulled, twisted and simply did not hang well. Well done to dir­ector Sam Mendes but please find Daniel some proper clothes next time.

The Times

Yorkshire Graham Buckley: I agree with Sir Ian McKellen that watching performances of William Shakespeare’s plays is much more valuable than reading them. I recently saw the Royal Shakespeare Company’s performance of Henry V in Stratford-upon-Avon and was completely riveted. Yet until then—ever since my school days in the 1960s, when whole passages of Shakespeare had to be learnt by rote—I had avoided his works like the very plague.

The Daily Telegraph

Somerset Leo Marriott: Country Life magazine says a modern gentleman can unfasten a bra with one hand. During the summer my wife broke her elbow and was unable to fasten and unfasten the bra. This I was able to do but only with much fumbling on each occasion, especially if my glasses were not to hand. However, my wife was reassured by my obvious lack of familiarity with the intricacies of ladies’ underwear.

The Daily Telegraph