Comfort of strangers | Another Battle of Hastings | Autumn lights | Borrowed books | Poly wobbles
Such an inspiring tale of the transformative power of cinema (The one change that worked: numb with grief, I sat in the dark, surrounded by strangers – and began to heal, 12 October). Having lost my only sister, my father and my wife within a relatively short period, I can attest to the ability of this precious activity to distract, uplift and, well, simply rescue one from the deepest pit of despair. Cinema saves lives – that is absolutely clear to me.
Geoffrey Meenan
London
• I was there at the other Battle of Hastings on 5 March 1966 (Letters, 12 October). I was 16 and went with my then boyfriend, who was at Leicester art college. I recall the sack costume and wildly rushing down a hill. That evening I ate spaghetti bolognese (English version) for the first time. My taste for Italian food lasted longer than the boyfriend.
Elaine Fear
Horsted Keynes, West Sussex
