To be fair to Richard Luce, he rapidly learned on the job (, 12 September). Largely because he was an arts “outsider”, he carried out the role in an unusually fair manner, both in relation to the regions and to participation. Albeit subject to Thatcherite dogma, he was actually a much better arts minister than the likes of the egocentric David Mellor, beholden to the metropolitan arts and museum vested interests as arts ministers usually are.Christopher GordonWinchester, Hampshire • Barney Ronay (Sport, 10 September) . He concludes that the best six are (averages): Strauss (40.9), Gooch (42.6), Trescothic (43.8), Cook...