A sweet moment for refugee schoolchildren | Brief letters

In a reflective letter, a former teacher from West London reminisces about her experiences teaching refugee children in the 1990s and early 2000s, particularly those from Kosovo and Albania. These students, many of whom were unaccompanied minors, faced a myriad of challenges as they adapted to their new environment. The author recalls a vivid scene outside their school's technology block, where three morello cherry trees stood. Previously, the fallen fruit would be left to rot on the ground, but the arrival of the Kosovan students transformed this situation. As the cherries ripened, these children eagerly climbed the trees to harvest the fruit, returning to class with joy and stained shirts. This moment not only highlights the resilience and adaptability of the refugee children but also underscores the joy they found in simple pleasures, bringing a sense of normalcy and happiness amidst their challenging circumstances.

In another letter, a reader critiques the framing of traybakes as a 'queering' of traditional British meals, pointing out the assumptions made about gender and food preferences. The writer argues that the description could easily be generalized to include all people, regardless of their sexual orientation. Additionally, a response to a report on the dangers posed by increasingly high car bonnets suggests that local councils could mitigate this issue by imposing higher charges on owners of such vehicles. This approach could encourage manufacturers, particularly those producing larger models like Land Rover, to reconsider their designs. Finally, a brief note reflects on the concept of gifting, indicating a shift in perspective about the act of giving. These letters collectively illustrate the diverse opinions and experiences of individuals engaged with current societal themes, from education and refugee experiences to social norms and safety concerns on the roads.