It's an unfair cop

Both Michael Billington and your headline writer (Orton's pun recycled for chronicle of a death far better foretold, 1 October) do a small injustice to Joe Orton's lover Kenneth Halliwell. Although Billington rightly points out that the title Prick Up Your Ears "has seen a lot of service", he doesn't mention that it was coined by Halliwell in 1967. Despite his obvious cruelty towards Halliwell, Orton did retain a considerable respect for his talents as an editor of his work – an element of the story which tends to disappear in the various depictions of their relationship and its bloody dénouement.

Helen Tookey


• A Metropolitan police spokesman assures us that their officers are "keen" to "ensure that [gallery management] do not inadvertently break the law or cause any offence to their visitors" Tate Modern pulls image of Brooke Shields aged 10, 30 September). It is heartwarming to discover that the police now feel that patrolling social awkwardness is part of their remit. I am due to go to a rather sticky dinner party next week – will an officer accompany me to ensure that none of the guests cause me any offence?

Judith Flanders


• "Pubs are producing their own ingredients, including venison, trout and even bees" (Report, 1 October). There used to be a beer called Yorkshire Stingo, and I've heard of bees pudding, made with split bees obviously, but I'm at a loss otherwise. Could this be the next 35mm museum series?

Gordon Thorburn

Woodbridge, Suffolk

• Quick Crossword, 1 October, 1 down: Church of England clergyman?

Rev Gwenda Manco

Littleborough, Lancashire

• I'm not that bothered about sending clowns into space (Report, 30 September) but I'd definitely send all the mimes.

Ben McCrory


•Why are they called periods, asks Tanya Gold (Why women have sex, G2, 28 September). Because they're periodic!

Trevor Read

Swanage, Dorset

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