HAVING come across Norman MacRae’s “who is the busiest letter writer in the world”? (16/8), it was a huge relief to discover that it does not seem to be I, although only marginally behind the 730 he claims to have had published with this feat itself being trumped, according to the Guinness Book of Records from whom one may have expected a little more precision, by “someone in Africa”.

Reading between the lines I also receive the impression that your (and many other publications’) correspondents’ contributions are appearing at a considerably faster rate than mine, spread over 30 years, though admittedly largely in the Oxford Mail over the past two decades or so, with the result that for that reason alone, I am unlikely to catch him up – so please do not hesitate to print this submission if you wish.

I can now safely tell those who, presumably jokingly, threaten to denounce me to the aforementioned volume, which bestows no bronze medals, to go and drink a pint of stout.

Nevertheless, may I take this opportunity to express my thanks to both you, all those offering praise and encouragement (not to mention a handful who have been somewhat less complimentary in one form or another) and last but not least, the police, the medical profession, local authorities etc without whose major defects half my inspiration would be lacking.

DAVID DIMENT

Riverside Court, Oxford