Useless accolades | U3A love | Moscow guarantees | Crossword clue | Keith Flett’s beard

Never mind the wording of the accolade (Letters, 20 August), why do we need these constant accolades at all? In recent weeks, I have been congratulated for buying train tickets online, paying money into a savings account and taking part in an online consultation run by my professional body. No skill or luck on my part was involved in any of these operations. On the bright side, at least the Guardian has now reversed its top Wordwheel grading to a mere “Excellent”.
Janet Fraser
Twickenham, London

• I was delighted to see an advert for U3A in the Guardian print edition (21 August). My wife and I signed up when we moved to Hampshire, joining lots of groups and making many friends. We have had exactly the same experience since moving back to Clitheroe. In our discussion group, the Guardian is an excellent source for interesting topics.
Ian Duckworth
Clitheroe, Lancashire