Cleo Laine (Obituary, 25 July) was not only a great performer and proselytiser for jazz, but supported the arts and artists in less public ways. When I launched The Arts Channel in 1983, she and John Dankworth became shareholders and consultants. In this role they persuaded many of the world’s leading jazz artists to appear on the channel. They were also two of the judges for our young jazz players’ competition.
John Griffiths
Monmouth
• In Cardiff, we had ripe blackberries in June (Letters, 25 July). I have already made blackberry vinegar and blackberry and lemon magic pudding (which is delicious with cream). There are hundreds of green blackberries still waiting to ripen.
Hilary Perry
Dinas Powys, Vale of Glamorgan
