Baked beans and damp squibs for Brexit

A sign advertising Brexit fireworks in the window of a hardware shop.Photograph: Phil Noble/ReutersWhat an enthralling collection of Other Lives (Obituaries, 28 October). We mere mortals standing on the sidelines can only be grateful to these champions of British agriculture, academia, publishing, education, social policy, design and nursing. And not a little concerned that valuing such achievements seems sadly out of step with the current lie of the land.Richard LeeLeigh-on-Sea, Essex• I h