Sir – Mr Evans takes issue with me over my defence of the use of Berkshire in Count Tolstoy’s postal address (Letters, October 27).
I feel my case would be clearer if I mentioned a couple of facts.
The Post Office abolished postal counties in 1996 and would prefer it if the public did not use counties in their addresses, relying solely on postal codes. Therefore as counties are no longer taken account of in directing post, individuals are at liberty to put whatever county they wish.
In addition, Berkshire has existed as a county since 845 AD with virtually unchanged boundaries, with the River Thames forming the natural barrier in the north. In contrast, since reorganisation in 1974 local government boundaries in England have been continually changed and will no doubt continue to be altered as fashions change.
It is preferable to stay with a county that has a pedigree of nearly 1,200 years rather than one which may be only in existence for a limited period.
Paul Hornby, Oxford
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