SIR - Mr Howley attempts to correct David Hornsby's earlier letter (T&A, November 29) but is unfortunately sadly mistaken himself.

Although Those Were The Days was indeed produced by Paul McCartney, he did not compose it, and it was never a Beatles song. The song is a much older Russian romance with English lyrics written by the American Gene Raskin. Also, Mary Hopkin enjoyed no fewer than seven UK chart hits, including the 1970 Eurovision runner up Knock Knock, Who's There, which reached number two.

Ms Hopkin retreated from chart action following her 1971 marriage to legendary producer Tony Visconti, Nevertheless her career was far more successful than Kevin Howley suggests.

Charles Priestley, Hatton Close, Odsal