Given that Donetsk was founded by the engineer John Hughes and that Gareth Jones was the first journalist to draw the world’s attention to Stalin’s weaponisation of food that led to the 1930s famine in Ukraine, wouldn’t it be fitting if the Eurovision song contest were to be held next year in Wales (UK to host Eurovision song contest in 2023 on behalf of Ukraine, 25 July)?
Scott Martingell
Berlin, Germany
• Delighted as I was to read Jon Bounds’ article (Brutalism, brilliant brews and the balti triangle: 20 reasons to love Birmingham, 28 July), I have to put in a word for some of the many great writers from the city. They include, naming just the ones I have read, JRR Tolkien, Jim Crace, Kit de Waal, John Wyndham, Jonathan Coe and lastly the multi-talented Osman Yousefzada, who is both an artist and writer.
Sarah Akhtar
Stoke-on-Trent
