General Sir Richard Trant

Roger Shenton writes: My late father, Major Bert Shenton, was the second in command of 32 Medium Regiment RA when it was stationed at Sekong in Hong Kong in the early 1950s. During this time a tall young officer with a large handlebar moustache joined the regiment in Battleaxe company (obituary, General Sir Richard Trant, Oct 10 ). As he was the tallest officer he was chosen to carry the axe on behalf of the company at the various parades — a very impressive sight.

My parents used to invite single junior officers to spend Christmas with our family. Dinner was usually in the afternoon as the officers undertook the traditional duty of serving the regiment its lunch. By the time they returned and dinner had finished all the men had imbibed well, to say the least. One Christmas I was given a present of a set of toy soldiers which included several medium and 155mm toy guns (shooting matchsticks), and it was no surprise that my present was purloined. I have never seen four grown men, including the young Dick Trant (all Gunner officers), enjoy themselves so much conducting a series of pitched battles throughout the flat.

Sir Edward Tomkins

Stuart Harrison writes: Sir Edward, (obituary, Sept 28 ) with his wife Jill, was in the vanguard of the new wave of stately home owners who enthusiastlcally embraced tourism. Inspired by neighbours such as Sir Francis Dashwood at West Wycombe, Sir Edward, along with Lord Camoys at Stonor Park and Lord Saye and Sele at Broughton Castle, would always say yes to any request to host overseas tour operators and travel writers in their beautiful Wren house, Winslow Hall.

The Rev Professor C. F. D. Moule

The Rev Bernard Wrightson writes: Professor Charlie Moule (obituary, Oct 5 , and Lives Remembered , Oct 11), presented me with a copy of his Phenomenon of the New Testament in 1969 and asked me to keep it unopened until I was clear of the college. He said that he was very proud of this book because it was the only one with his illustrations. In fact he had simply drawn round a coin to illustrate the dividing line between the Jesus of history and the Lord of faith. I note on the page with his best wishes and his signature a distinct marmalade stain. During our meeting we had been sitting inelegantly on the floor eating toast while sharing problems about chapel attendence and other matters. He more than anyone was responsible for my later career change.

Captain Kenneth Lockwood

Nicola Urling Clark writes: Of the Laufen Six the second group of three consisted of Captain Kenneth Lockwood (obituary, Oct 11 ), Captain Harry Elliott of the Irish Guards, and Captain Dick Howe of the Royal Tank Regiment, not Hare as printed. Dick Howe was the escape officer in Colditz from 1942 until the end of the war.