During his first wartime premiership, Sir Winston Churchill was variously photographed wearing the uniforms of an officer in the Army and Royal Air Force. What was his authorisation for doing so and why does he never, discounting the “yachting rig” of the First Civil Lord, appear to have worn naval uniform?”

Churchill was appointed Honorary Air Commodore of No 615 (County of Surrey) Squadron Auxiliary Air Force on April 4, 1939, and was therefore entitled to wear the RAF uniform. His tunic and commission are displayed in the RAF Museum.

Peter Elliott, Senior Keeper, Royal Air Force Museum, Hendon, London

In 1941 Churchill was appointed Colonel, 4th Queen’s Own Hussars, in which he served as a junior officer for four years. In the same year he was appointed Honorary Colonel, 5th (Cinque Ports) Battalion. There was no official uniform for First Lord of the Admiralty; his familiar nautical rig was that of the Royal Yacht Squadron, of which he had been a member since 1911.

Paul Courtenay, Chairman, the Churchill Centre, Andover, Hants

When did Ralph (Ralf) become Rafe? Sir Ralph Richardson wouldn’t have recognised himself from a public address system.

Nor would my mother’s uncle, who lived in West Durham. He was always Uncle Ralph (pronounced “Rarf”). A plague on both your pronunciations.

J. Sanderson, Peterlee, Co Durham

“Rafe” became “Ralf” rather than vice versa. The origin of this name is to be found in the Hebrew word rofe or rafe meaning healer or doctor. As is common in Hebrew names, the suffix “el” was added to denote the divine, as in names such as Michael and Gabriel. In the case of Raphael, this became abbreviated to Ralph.

Geoff Corre, Bushey Heath, Herts

Can any other artefact match the violin for purpose, design, craftmanship and durability?

Anyone who watched the recent Proms on TV will have noticed many violinists attach a metal frame to the end of their instruments to make them more comfortable to play. Any artefact that needs an ugly bolt-on to improve it has failed in both form and function.