Sir – The History Man, Chris Koenig, in his description of The Queen’s College Needle and Thread (aiguilles et fils) dinner (January 2), did not have space to tell us about the different coloured threads.
The bursar would hand out needles with black thread to the theologians, blue for the lawyers and medical graduates and red for artists.
This is still done to a limited extent. On one occasion in the 1970s I was only one of two women at this ceremony.
We noticed afterwards that all the men had put their needles in their right-hand lapels. We two women, used to sewing, had put ours on the left side of our dresses.
Ann Spokes Symonds, Oxford
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here