Sir: I hope I may be allowed to reply to
some of the points raised in the letter Mrs Brock wrote to you (Letters, February 3) in response to mine concerning the National Trust?
Mrs Brock notes that I did not query the accuracy of her story: only the participants in the matter could do this. Naturally, I concluded that if Mrs Brock had not felt some bitterness she would not have written her article, but of course I am not asserting that she allowed it to be coloured by this feeling. It does not seem to me that we, your readers, can properly come to any conclusion regarding the treatment of Mrs Brock without hearing the Trust's viewpoint. Inevitably, the article's publication placed the Trust in an invidious position. Such a body may not be able to defend itself without risking a breath of propriety if not confidence. For this reason, I decided I should come to its defence, even though I could only do so on the general grounds which were within my own experience.
May I point out that I did not say that I hoped Mrs Brock's experience was untypical — my words were "I cannot believe that hers is a typical experience," and at the risk of lacking moderation if not courtesy, I have to say that this is still my conviction! Nor can I accept Mrs Brock's suggestion that I found the enthusiasm I referred to mostly in the Centres and amongst the newer staff. I do not doubt that she is correct in thinking it exists in both cases, but I have never been more than a nominal Centre member and I was recalling as many long standing as recent members of the staff.
I have not been to Montacute for many years, so I cannot comment on the placing of the shop, but it seems to me quite reasonable to oblige visitors to pass this point during their tour — otherwise they might miss it, as indeed would be even more likely if it was in the village. For a number of reasons, not necessarily cynical, this would be a pity. As for persuading people to become members, no doubt some are pressed too hard, but I do not think that this is really the cause of failures to renew subscriptions after one year. All the Hon. Treasurers I know find increasing difficulty in retaining members at this stage.
I did not feel that Mrs Brock necessarily advocated keeping everything in aspic, but I think there is a very natural human tendency to resist change, which may well increase with experience. After a number of years, it must be hard for a custodian not to be to some degree possessive about their dearly loved charge. It seems to me, however, that the Trust has to experiment with a variety of fund raising ideas, if only because sticking solely to the old ones is not producing enough money. As I suggested in my earlier letter, some will fail, but others must and I hope will succeed or it will be
the worse for our heritage of beautiful and historic places.
Rosemary N. Leach Trobridge House, Crediton, Devon
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