Sir: There are many reasons why the funeral train carrying Churchill's body left from Waterloo (letter, 4 February). The station stands very close to the Thames, which was an integral part of the funeral day. The locomotive hauling the train, a Battle of Britain pacific, bore the name Winston Churchill, and this was operated by the Southern region of British Railways, which included Waterloo. The fact that there is a line from there giving access to Oxfordshire via Reading was surely a factor.

Sir: Your report about identity cards (3 February) is illustrated with a sample card, which shows a young woman smiling happily. Presumably this is to encourage us all to feel that identity cards are something to be pleased about. Such a cheerful expression is not acceptable for a passport photograph and is unlikely to be useable for an identity card. My identity card portrait, if I ever have one, will carry no such sunny expression, I assure you.

Formidable Permanent Secretary

Northampton 41 - Bedford 8

Northampton 41 - Bedford 8

In Liverpool yesterday people came out to share their grief and lend support

The two grocery bags Stan Bigley lugged across the street yesterday gave a fleeting glimpse of how his family was attempting to cope with a day it had barely dared contemplate.

Olympic medallist and 'angry young man' of athletics

Police investigating a letter bomb campaign released the name yesterday of a man they wished to interview. They said Justin McAuliffe, 32, had not been seen since he left his flat in Bedford last Saturday.

Matt Skelton, who not so long ago was earning his living from kicks in the K1 rings of Japan, set something of a record last night when he knocked out holder Michael Sprott in the 12th round to become the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion in his 13th fight.

Pioneer of the stately-home industry in opening a funfair and zoo park at Woburn

Sale 22 Bedford 3

Sir: I wonder if Mr Justice Steel, who has dismissed the damages claim of the mother of Caroline Dickinson, murdered on a school trip to France (report, 11 December), is happy about retiring at night without locking his front door?

Bedford 17 Northampton 41