Sheila Millington writes: I remember my time at Toynbee Hall in the late 1960s very well. I was a professional social worker, employed in the then Tower Hamlets Children’s Department, but I lived at Toynbee. In the eyes of Walter Birmingham (obituary, September 13), I was a “career social worker” — a term new to me — and we used to have lively discussions, as the essence of Toynbee was voluntary work.
I believe it was The Times that commented then that the warden’s post at Toynbee was one such where, if the warden wished to know when Easter fell, he would telephone the Archbishop of Canterbury. Walter was much amused, as he was the most modest of men.
Walter always acknowledged the contribution his wife, Maisie, made to his life and work. They made a strong partnership and their influence was pervasive throughout the settlement. Somehow they managed to create a family home for their three talented children on top of the busy Commercial Street.
On retirement, they moved to Shaftesbury, and before long celebrated their golden wedding. They were active in community life in Shaftesbury and helped to set up a voluntary care home. It was there that Walter moved when he became too frail to live at home. Maisie joined him to help in his care and share his life as she had done for so long.
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Michael Beloff, QC, writes: Your obituary of Sir David Calcutt, QC, (August 16) made no mention of of his service as a judge of the Court of Appeal of Jersey and Guernsey between 1979 and 2000, the second longest period in the court’s history, or of his contribution to the distinctive jurisprudence of each Channel island. He was extremely popular among his fellow judges for his belief that knotty problems of Norman French law were often best solved during a leisurely al fresco lunch au bord de la mer.
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Malcolm Green writes: On reading your obituary of Derek Johnson (September 9) I was reminded of a summer afternoon in 1956. Harold Abrahams opened the new James Memorial Ground at Bryanston School in Dorset, where I was a member of the athletics team, and brought down an Achilles Club team of Oxbridge blues to honour the occasion in a handicap match. The highlight of the afternoon was the 880 yards run by Derek Johnson in 1 minute, 51.6 seconds — the fastest on grass that year. All who witnessed it marvelled at Johnson’s combination of effortless grace and power.
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Paul B. Hannon writes: Dennie Mancini (obituary, September 15) and I used to eat at the same small Italian restaurant a few doors down from his day job at Lonsdale on Beak Street. He would usually order Italian food with a soft drink to be taken back to the store. While waiting, he would sit with me and tell me stories. He was a brilliant raconteur.
His tales from the ring were fascinating, and our conversations would then shift to the motion picture and theatre scene, about which he was well informed and knowledgeable. He was an autodidact who could hold his own conversationally on many subjects.
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Sylvester Stein writes: It would be true to say that Beyers Naudé (September 8) had seen the liberal light even before Sharpeville: in 1957 he approached me through a cousin of mine who farmed at Stellenbosch, to ask if I would get in touch. He wanted me — then editor of Drum, the black magazine — to arrange a very discreet introduction to leaders of the ANC.
Len Handley writes: I was an engineering manager at Elliott Fight Automation in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when the mergers and takeovers involving English Electric, GEC, Marconi and Elliot-Automation were taking place. I remember hearing that during this period of change and uncertainty, Jack Pateman (obituary, September 10), on leaving his office for a meeting, said to his secretary: “If my boss rings, take his name!”
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