17 JUNE 1989, Page 24

London Pride

Sir: Richard West's voyage to Vauxhall (`Another Country', 13 June) seems to have been quite an adventure for the veteran travel writer. His back must have been painfully bent from the weight of sarcasm which he carried South of the River. Small wonder that his powers of observation deserted him. There is no statue of Nelson Mandela either inside or outside the National Theatre. There is, however, a statue of two nudes by Frank Dobson entitled 'London Pride' but this could hardly be mistaken, even as a metaphor, for a statue of one of Mr West's betes noires.

Richard Eyre

National Theatre, South Bank, London SE1