SOUTHAMPTON 5315, Locksheath 290 Halifax 62393 and York 769445 are the numbers of the telephones in each house I’ve lived in since about 1937.

With each telephone came a book of instructions telling me that, when answering the telephone I should give either my name or the telephone number. Incidentally, I also answered my works telephone with “2781 Usherwood”.

This habit has remained with me all my life, so can somebody please explain why, practically every time I answer the telephone correctly, somebody at the other end says: “Can I speak to Mr Usherwood, please?”

M C Usherwood, Mendip Close, Huntington, York.