Emma Beddington is spot-on (There are two kinds of people: those who enjoyed school PE lessons – and the rest of us, 27 April). PE at school in the 1980s was a mix of sadism and masochism, with the majority forced to endure the cold, rain and physical discomfort. Occasionally, the motivation was glory for the school in the sport of the season, but primarily it was a timetable-filler. While a few egos were boosted, for most it was an ordeal. How different the consequences might have been if framed in terms of choice and physical health.
Richard Madge
Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex
I am now 75 years old and spent my formative years as a convent girl. My horror of the gym is as strong as ever. Outdoor sports were just about tolerable, but the gym classes were a nightmare: unsuccessfully climbing ropes, crashing into the horse while those more nimble flew over the top. However, I have successfully navigated a healthy life with plenty of outdoor exercise and, despite pressure from the younger generation, retain absolutely zero desire to frequent the gym in my dotage.
Fanny Jones
Twineham, West Sussex
As a proud mum of a secondary school PE teacher, who married another excellent PE teacher, I am saddened by Emma Beddington’s generalisation of those who have trained to teach their subject of PE.
I have only experienced my family telling me stories about encouraging people to become active and how they make their lessons fun; that sport can be for all, at many different levels, and in a variety of ways, and definitely not all ball-based team sports. Please don’t tar all PE teachers with the same brush that you sadly experienced, Ms Beddington.
Christine Batley
Cromer, Norfolk
How I loathed, and was frightened of, PE at my south London girls’ high school, mainly because of the vicious teacher who once told me in front of a class of giggling 13-year-olds that I would always be a “rabbit” at tennis. Hockey could be a nightmare, but south London could be relied on in the 1960s to have plenty of fog, so I would disappear behind the goalpost. She never noticed my absence. How much better life is now in 2026. At my grandchildren’s excellent comprehensive school, PE has sets, so the less sporty ones are spared the cruelty of times past.
Janet Mansfield
Aspatria, Cumbria
I absolutely hated school sports – ridicule from classmates, and behaviour bordering on abuse from the staff. They expelled me just before my O-levels due to my sporting inability. Not that I dislike exercise: in my 70s I still go to the gym and pilates classes. But if a football trailer comes on the TV, I want to throw the set out of the window into the river, but instead I wrote a song, Shrill Whistle Blues, which you can find on YouTube. Enjoy!
Peter Harlow
Wookey Village, Somerset