I was a young housewife in the early 1970s when I heard about the National Housewives’ Register – now the National Women’s Register – founded by Maureen Nicol (Obituary, 3 September). It was a lifeline. My husband’s job required us to move around the country, and finding myself in a new location with two infants was daunting and lonely. The Register provided an escape and opened up the way to lively, non-domestic discussions and lifelong friendships. Sue Wallace Thame, Oxfordshire Why should Lucy Mangan even consider a laundering and ironing service for her son’s school shirts (Digested week, 6 September)? Starting secondary school is a good time to introduce boys – and girls – to ironing. I made sure my son ironed all his shirts, and later introduced the idea that he should wash his sports kit. Worked very well. Jennifer Turner York Martin Luther King Jr once said “a riot is the language of the unheard” (Economic inequality leads to anger – and riots, 9 September). PR voting might give these people the voice they require. Brendan Mc Mahon Poole, Dorset A pint of Guinness has 0.3mg of iron, so men would need to drink 29 pints and women 49 pints to reach their daily iron requirements (Letters, 9 September). Dr John Doherty Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire Royal Mail could help to reduce loneliness by introducing a 50p rate for postcards (Price of a UK first-class stamp to rise to £1.65 in October, 6 September). Elizabeth Baker Birmingham