He concludes that it was a “revealing exercise in the power of a televised argument to change people’s minds”

In fact, it was a swizz. To test the system, I rang nine times in the two minutes given to register a “yes” vote (although I would not normally participate in such a “voodoo” poll) Each time the line was engaged. Winder describes a “spirited debate” and then the public was invited to take part again; this time only 65 per cent said that the police commissioner was right. Anne has had “a bad press”, and it is time to redress the balance.
Mary Saaler(Anne of Cleves’ biographer) Caterham, Surrey.

ROBERT Winder was quite taken in by the You Decide television phone-in poll (“Talk shows for the chattering classes”, 16 July). Some 92 per cent of the “sample” of viewers said Sir Paul Condon was “right to say that very many of London’s muggers are black”. She died in the reign of Queen Mary (not Elizabeth), who provided a magnificent funeral for her, but much of it was at Anne’s expense. There are various portraits of her, all showing similar features, which suggests that Holbein’s painting was realistic, not a “flattering result”. Her father, John, Duke of Cleves, was not a Protestant prince He was a Catholic all his life. Her brother William (not her brother-in-law) suggested that Holbein should paint her portrait.

I WAS disappointed to read time-worn myths about Anne of Cleves on the anniversary of her death (The List, 16 July). Sanders has never to my knowledge made reference to the enforced stoppage or complained about it. I firmly believe, however, that without it he would have sunk the putt and won.
John HarwoodNew Malden, Surrey. Just as Sanders was about to putt, the over-enthusiastic photographers released a barrage of flashes and motor winds. Sanders waited for it to subside, and then just as he was about to hit the ball, Trevino remonstrated with the photographers This forced Sanders to wait even longer. I HAVE always maintained that poor Doug Sanders missed the putt in the 1970 Open (“Chokers in the pack”, Sport, 16 July) due to the well- intentioned but misplaced intervention of his playing partner Lee Trevino.