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‘What happened to Pan Yan military pickle?’ and other excellent readers’ questions

Photo of newsroom with a question mark in a speech bubble
Photo of newsroom with a question mark in a speech bubble

Whether you’re after a travel, culture or food recommendation, have a science or tech question or are pondering a philosophical or moral dilemma, there’s a Telegraph journalist who can help.

We address a question each Friday in the Conversations newsletter, where you’ll also find like-minded readers sharing light-hearted, entertaining and human interest stories.

Sign up to receive Conversations in your inbox every Friday.


Chris Reid asks:

“What happened to Pan Yan military pickle?”


Amy Bryant, Food Editor, replies:

“You’re in a fine pickle!” read the advertisement, picturing a guilty-looking puppy dripping from snout to tail with the dark, viscous condiment. Produced for almost a century from 1907, Pan Yan pickle was once the spread of choice for sandwiches, pork pies and to stir through salads.

It was created by the Maconochie brothers, specialists in canned herrings before they expanded into pickles, potted meats and soups, and long-life military rations. Pan Yan – containing chopped vegetables and apple in a spiced, sweet-sour sauce – was a bestseller through to the 1950s, but after Maconochie Bros was sold (and resold), and as Branston’s popularity took hold, the final jar of Pan Yan rolled off the production line in 2002.


Jon Hamm as Don Draper in Mad Men - Carin Baer/AMC
Jon Hamm as Don Draper in Mad Men - Carin Baer/AMC

Emmeline Lucas asks:

“I’m in the middle of watching Mad Men, and I've been very struck by what a large proportion of the actors are left handed. Are left handers more likely to become actors, I wonder?”


Sarah Knapton, Science Editor, replies:

Studies have linked left-handedness to creativity, which may be down to brain differences, or increased adaptivity from having to adjust to a right-handed world.

Around 10 per cent of people are left-handed, and although there is no list of left-handed actors, there is little indication the industry has more southpaws.

Of the key Mad Men actors, only January Jones is left-handed, with Jon Hamm, Elizabeth Moss, John Slattery, Christina Hendricks and Vincent Kartheiser all right-handers.

Actors often appear left-handed on screen because they are facing the viewer, so a glass, cigarette etc in the right hand will appear to be in the left.


Julian Gall asks:

“The papers and TV always used to refer to Queen Elizabeth as ‘the Queen’. However, the custom with our new king is to call him King Charles. Is this something in the Telegraph’s style guide? Can we expect to see references to just ‘the King’ soon?”


Alex Wallace, Senior Production Journalist, replies:

The Telegraph should always refer to royalty by their proper titles. However, confusion tends to reign when a holder becomes synonymous with his or her title. Many people still struggle to imagine anyone other than Elizabeth II when asked to picture the Queen, for example.

Therefore, during periods of transition, it is useful to signpost whom we are referring to by using a first name (e.g. Queen Camilla or King Charles). We also bear in mind that some readers search online for ‘King Charles’, so we include the name to make articles easier to find.

However, in print, Telegraph style is to refer to the current monarch as the King and his wife as the Queen. Former monarchs are referred to by forename and ordinal (e.g. Elizabeth II).


Woman power walking through a park - Getty Images/Vetta
Woman power walking through a park - Getty Images/Vetta

Nicola Reid asks:

“Some people who live to a great age say they stick to a strict daily routine. They get up, exercise and eat regularly at the same time each day. How critical is routine to longevity?”


Laura Donnelly, Health Editor, replies:

The secret of longevity? A mix of luck, genetics, environment and lifestyle.

All the habits that keep people healthy – exercise, a balanced diet, not being overweight, sufficient sleep, not smoking and limiting alcohol – also promote longevity. That said, some say cutting out all vices may just make life feel longer!

Social interaction, and human connections have also been linked to a healthier and longer life.

There isn’t much research showing that adopting a strict routine is critical to longevity. However, most people find it easier to adopt a healthy lifestyle if they get into regular habits, while studies on sleep suggest that consistent patterns are more beneficial. For that reason, a strict routine may well offer a boost to longevity – but that depends on what those daily habits are.


Andrew Graham asks:

“Why do clocks go back two months before winter solstice but forward three months after? It feels like a huge imbalance.”


Sarah Knapton, Science Editor, replies:

Daylight saving is not explicitly linked to the solstices, being an economical, rather than astronomical, phenomenon.

The idea was adopted by Britain in 1916 to conserve coal during the First World War, when it ran between May and October. Following a brief permanent shift to BST between 1968 and 1971, Britain passed the Summer Time Act, which allowed the government to specify the start of BST each year – usually at the end of March to avoid Easter. Britain synchronised with Europe in 1994, with BST now starting on the last Sunday in March and the last Sunday in October.


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