Sir – I was pleased to see recognition given to the life and great achievements of the historian Sir Martin Gilbert (Feature and obituary, February 12). However, it is a shame that in one key respect the obituary was in error.

Sir Martin did not die at the end of ‘a long battle with cancer’ but as the result of an infection after nearly three years of grave illness as a result of a hypoxia brain injury.

Having had the pleasure and privilege of working with Sir Martin on several of his books as copy-editor, I know how greatly he prized accuracy, and I confess I was disappointed that on this occasion your tribute fell short of his own standards.

Gillian Somerscales, Kidlington