Michael Grange, the director of the Randolph Hotel, is quoted at great length about the "devastating" damage to his establishment caused by the recent fire and about the expected "extremely expensive" repairs.

Can we expect an apology from Mr Grange any time soon for the huge cost to the people of the county arising from "perhaps too much cognac in a saucepan" in his kitchen?

JOHN KINORY
Paines Hill, Steeple Aston