Recent letters in the County Times on the correct pronunciation of place names, reminded me of the time I began to work at Newtown High School.

I wanted to confirm that the school football team I ran had a game against Machynlleth High School. I had looked at the name a number of times, and convinced myself that it was pronounced “Maccy-nelth”.

When I spoke to the head of PE, Mike Casey, he smiled diplomatically and corrected me by saying it was pronounced “McUnthleth.” This completely bewildered me. I couldn’t see it at all.

Local teachers who I worked with tended to abbreviate certain place names. For example,

Llanfair Caereinion was referred to as “Lanver” and Llanidloes was simply “Lanny.” All very confusing for someone from the north west of England.

David S. Ainsworth.
Denton, Manchester