Sir, – Your reviewer Donald Clarke finds the Newfoundland film The Grand Seduction ("Craggy veterans steal the show", August 29th) verges on the twee because it features a doctorless small town with the name of ("oh, dear!") Tickle Head.
Clearly Mr Clarke knows little about Newfoundland. Many small towns in Canada, especially in Newfoundland, lack a family doctor. Enticing a doctor to town is a major challenge for small, remote communities.
And Tickle Head is by no means a fanciful name for a small Newfoundland outport. Ragged Harbour, Bat’s Path End, The Gut, Heart’s Delight and Heart’s Desire are all names of real communities in Newfoundland. And so are Baker’s Tickle, Black Tickle, and Chimney Tickle.
Maybe a trip to Newfoundland might tickle Mr Clarke’s fancy. – Yours, etc,
LAUCHLAN T MUNRO,
Berkley Avenue,
Ottawa, Canada.