The American film director Roger Corman was a great innovator (Obituary, May 12). He often reversed the process of making a film. When someone came to him with an idea, he gave it a title, had a poster made and then tested it on the public. If they responded well, he had someone write a script based on the poster. The better I knew him, the more I admired him. I will miss his advice and knowledge of filmmaking.
Johannes Boorman
Albury Heath, Surrey
The concern about the high cost of olive oil (report, May 7) reminds me of an event in the 1980s when a neighbor complained to the manager of our local cooperative that she could not find olive oil in the store. His response was, “Oh dear, do you have an earache? You’d better go to the pharmacy.”
Michael Penney
Dronfield, Derbyshire
As a cartographer, school atlas and map publisher, I am sure that Bo’ness, Sana’a, N’Djamena and similar locations are pleased that the leaders of North Yorkshire and Nova Scotia are not in charge of the world’s nomenclature (Letters, May 10th).
David Harling
Tadley, Hampshire
Since I just turned 80, I was interested in your letters about growing old (May 10). Recently I had to call three friends, ages 95, 90, and 83, to arrange transportation to a party the following week. I called on Saturday at 9pm; not one of them was inside.
Marcia Thompson
Formby, Merseyside
The biggest paradox about growing old is that people think we were born yesterday.
Barbara Brewis
Burnopfield, County Durham