Do I dare to listen to the great country diarist? | Brief letters

Pubs that serve beer perfectly | Rocky quote | Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman | Paul Evans on radio | Shrewd shrews | Ironmonger becomes nail barI really shouldn't be revealing this to you, Brian Simpson (Letters, 25 October), but we have a valley just brimming over with pubs that store and serve beer and ale perfectly. The multi-award-winning Old Cock in Otley has to be top of anyone's must-visit list. Real ales, real ciders, real people, real conversations, and now and again real music.Angus MacIntoshBurley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshireo The quote attributed to Rocky (Turkey investigates Galatasaray fans over 'Gülenist' Rocky poster, 25 October) does, in fact, belong to the French revolutionary Camille Desmoulins: "The great only appear great because we are on our knees; let us rise." It can be seen in O'Connell Street, Dublin.Seán O'ConghaileLondon Continue reading...