Rowse's other pursuits
From Mr Robert Triggs Sir: Dr A.L. Rowse's 'pursuit of Prick'. (A.N. Wilson, Books, 29 March). was sometimes employed to ruthless effect.
As a senior fellow of All Souls, he had it in his gift to influence considerably the selection of candidates to fellowships at the College. In 1968, while I was at Pembroke College, a friend of mine from neighbouring Christ Church — a good-looking, cherubic youth — applied for an All Souls fellowship. An indirect part of the examination was a formal dinner at All Souls, at which this young man found himself seated next to Dr Rowse.
During the dinner, one was expected to maintain lively and informed repartee, as well as holding one's drink and negotiating with decorum whatever delicacies one had to eat. As if that wasn't enough, my young friend had to cope with another unforeseen hazard — Dr Rowse's firm and mobile hand on his thigh under the table.
It is idle to speculate what influence all this had on the result of the examination, but it is certainly true that, at that moment, Dr Rowse held this young man's future in the palm of his hand.
Robert Triggs Antibes, France
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