In your University Guide (8 June), you describe nursing and midwiferystudies as an opportunity to “learn what’s needed to assist doctors”. Well nowadays we can use our pretty little heads to make decisions by ourselves. Initial training and postgrad courses produce thinking, autonomous practitioners who work in nurse-led units in both hospitals and primary care. Many nurses assess, prescribe and initiate treatments without having to ask a doctor first. Get with it!
Re your article (10 June) about Jean Purdy’s role in the work leading up to the birth of the first IVF baby in Oldham, it is true that she was not named in the plaque originally mounted at Kershaw’s Cottage hospital. But this was rectified in 2015 with a new plaque at Kershaw’s sponsored by the Royal Society of Biology. This gives her equal prominence to my father, Patrick Steptoe, and Robert Edwards, ensuring that her contribution is not forgotten.
As well as the five attractions listed (Why Leeds is a north star, 10 June), the city boasts major artistic organisations: an opera company (Opera North), ballet company (Northern Ballet), dance company (Phoenix), international music competition (Leeds International Piano competition) and theatre (West Yorkshire Playhouse).
Although the term “SUV” had not been invented back then, Aston Martin produced the “Aston Martin Shooting Brake” in 1966 (reference The Observer’s Book of Automobiles). It even looks quite like the new car (Aston Martin drives into the future with its first SUV, 11 June).
I don’t know which celebrities share my birthday (Letters, 8 June), but I wonder if they experience my delight in catching the postman’s eye as they hand me the mail each 14 February.