Thanks to Alexis Petridis (Anarchy in High Wycombe! The real story of the Sex Pistols’ earliest gigs, 9 June), I can now convince my grandchildren of my attendance at one of the first Sex Pistols gigs. In fact, if I hadn’t agreed to be in attendance that night – I was serving behind the bar – the party that Shanne Bradley describes would not have taken place. The student union was only allowed to hold dances if a senior member of staff was in attendance. All I can remember is an absolute racket and a lot of pogoing.
John Evans
Retired vice-principal, St Albans School of Art
• Re tipping habits (Germans best tippers in Europe, finds poll. Italians? Not so much, 10 June), in Italy, the downturn in the economy has meant that many trattorie have closed down or are no longer family-run, and so the staff may be more reliant on tips. However, some years ago we tried to leave a tip in a restaurant run by a family and the owner handed it back, almost as if he was insulted.
Patricia Borlenghi
Vernasca, Italy
• I almost sent a text to a retired Methodist minister friend, but fortunately noticed that autocorrect had changed “Hi Stan” to “Hi Satan” (Letters, 12 June).
John Owens
Stockport, Greater Manchester
• Re many recent Guardian articles, I have just come across the word “snollygoster”: “a politician who cares more for personal gain than serving the people” (Collins).
Dr Richard Moss
Penrith, Cumbria
• I thought Woking was famous for being the origin of that awful word “woke” (Letters, 12 June).
Ron Brewer
Old Buckenham, Norfolk
• This article was amended on 15 June 2023. The caption on the image of an earlier version said that it showed Sid Vicious, Johnny Rotten and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols. In fact it was not Cook but Steve Jones.
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