Sir –  I refer to Jeremy Smith’s article It’s a big opportunity missed (First Person, April 4). Yes, it’s a pity he didn’t find many local people celebrating the great win of Oxford winning the Boat Race.
I was away from Oxford myself, but the hotel I stayed in had it on their big-screen TV and many customers who couldn’t get a seat stood up and lined the bar to watch it.
I think it still goes back to the days when it was Town versus Gown, although many locals are getting into Oxford University to study now. Perhaps it will take that historic step for the University to link up with local schools to  scout for their senior pupils who have good potential at rowing, and consider them training alongside their crews, and that might bring in more interest to the Boat Race locally? Here’s to a true Oxford win in the near future.
Peter Berry, Oxford