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David Frost, Tony Blair, Richard Nixon, and Mr Tompkins David Frost, Tony Blair, Richard Nixon, and Mr Tompkins
(14 days later)
Another day, another factoid in the chosen narrative. The extensive coverage of the death of David Frost (suitable for a head of state) has included several mentions of his interview with Tony Blair, specifically the "did you pray together" question (Cameron, Blair and Parkinson lead accolades, 2 September). The clip shows that Blair treated this (politely) as a bizarre question, which it was. His response showed that he hardly knew what Frost was implying. In what sense was he "wrongfooted"?
Margaret Pelling
Oxford		Another day, another factoid in the chosen narrative. The extensive coverage of the death of David Frost (suitable for a head of state) has included several mentions of his interview with Tony Blair, specifically the "did you pray together" question (Cameron, Blair and Parkinson lead accolades, 2 September). The clip shows that Blair treated this (politely) as a bizarre question, which it was. His response showed that he hardly knew what Frost was implying. In what sense was he "wrongfooted"?
Margaret Pelling
Oxford
• David Frost's style of interviewing was probably due to years of listening to, and indeed practising, the art of lay preaching in the Methodist church. The aim is to make you feel guilty, unclean, a sinner in the eyes of God, and of course in the withering stare of the preacher. Accompanied by prolonged silences, it makes the recipients go weak at the knees and blurt out bumbling apologies, as we saw with Nixon's cathartic admission – and then, of course, forgiveness.
Dr Mark Wilcox
New Mill, West Yorkshire		• David Frost's style of interviewing was probably due to years of listening to, and indeed practising, the art of lay preaching in the Methodist church. The aim is to make you feel guilty, unclean, a sinner in the eyes of God, and of course in the withering stare of the preacher. Accompanied by prolonged silences, it makes the recipients go weak at the knees and blurt out bumbling apologies, as we saw with Nixon's cathartic admission – and then, of course, forgiveness.
Dr Mark Wilcox
New Mill, West Yorkshire
• I was in the same class as David Frost in the sixth form at Wellingborough grammar school. We always thought his mannerisms were a perfect "takeoff" of our history teacher, Mr Tompkins.
John Mann
Irchester, Northamptonshire		• I was in the same class as David Frost in the sixth form at Wellingborough grammar school. We always thought his mannerisms were a perfect "takeoff" of our history teacher, Mr Tompkins.
John Mann
Irchester, Northamptonshire
• I was two years behind David Frost at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He once borrowed 6d for the telephone. I never got it back. I regret his passing.
Giles Youngs
Drinkstone, Suffolk		• I was two years behind David Frost at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge. He once borrowed 6d for the telephone. I never got it back. I regret his passing.
Giles Youngs
Drinkstone, Suffolk
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