From Izal to the Guardian: A Collection of Witty Reader Letters Worth Sharing
Readers share sharp, humorous memories — from Izal toilet paper triggering relapses in OCD patients to a jazz musician's unlikely instrument.
Readers Reflect: Humor, Nostalgia, and the Unexpected Consequences of Everyday Things
Sometimes the most entertaining insights come not from experts or journalists, but from readers with sharp memories and sharper wit. The following letters touch on everything from an ill-fated hospital cost-cutting measure to crossword grammar disputes — and they are all the better for it.
When Toilet Paper Became a Therapeutic Hazard
During the 1970s, administrators at a London psychiatric hospital decided to cut costs by swapping out soft toilet tissue in favor of Izal medicated toilet roll. It seemed like a harmless financial decision — until therapists began noticing something troubling.
Patients being successfully treated for obsessive-compulsive disorders were suddenly relapsing at an alarming rate. The culprit? A seemingly innocent printed message on every single sheet of Izal paper: *"Now wash your hands.""
For individuals working hard to overcome compulsive behaviors, that simple instruction was enough to undo significant therapeutic progress. Needless to say, the hospital quietly discontinued its use. This anecdote was shared by Professor David C. Sanders, writing from Mortain, France.
The Izal Bumphone: An Unlikely Jazz Instrument
Not everyone has unpleasant memories of Izal toilet paper. David Witt from Malmesbury, Wiltshire, recalls it fondly — and for surprisingly musical reasons.
Beyond its well-known usefulness as tracing paper, Izal had another hidden talent: when stretched over a comb, it produced a remarkably satisfying sound. At the original Concorde Jazz Club in Southampton, one resourceful musician took full advantage of this quirk, performing with an Izal-wrapped comb — affectionately dubbed the "bumphone" — during interval sets, apparently to considerable comic effect.
A Silver Lining in Discontinued Products
Not all product discontinuations are cause for mourning. Bob Epton of Brigg, Lincolnshire, offers a cheerful counterpoint: when the News Chronicle ceased publication in 1960, his family was nudged toward a new daily read — the Guardian — and never looked back. A lifelong loyalty born from necessity.
Celebrating a Crossword Legend
Alan O'Gorman from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, was delighted to spot a famous cryptic crossword clue making a reappearance. The clue — "No can do" with the solution "Bottle party" — was the work of the late Albie Fiore, a celebrated crossword constructor whom O'Gorman knew personally from their school days in the 1960s.
As the Guardian's obituary noted in August 2009, Fiore was widely regarded as an "all-round good bloke." Seeing his clever wordplay revisited was a touching tribute to his enduring legacy.
A Grammar Lesson Hidden in Plain Sight
Finally, Teresa Quayle of Warrington, Cheshire, takes aim at a grammatical slip in the Quick Crossword. The clue used the word "practice" — a noun — yet the intended solution was "rehearse," which is a verb. The correct spelling for the clue should have been "practise."
It is a small distinction, but one that matters to careful readers — and a timely reminder that even crossword compilers are not immune to the occasional slip.
