22 JUNE 1985, Page 22

Leak

Sir: What a wonderful vignette of the British Establishment is given on your letters page today (15 June)! If Andrew Gimson is not consoled by Stewart Steven's letter, he might like to know of the following recent exchange between two senior colleagues: A. If you tell anyone I said this, I will deny I said it. You are about to be promoted.

B. Thank you, but I'm in no fit state to be promoted. And if you tell anyone I said that, I will of course deny it.

A more likely indication of How Rot Set In (Notes, 15 June) than the Alternative Service Book, surely?

Ray Petch

Department of Health & Social Security, Alexander Fleming House, Elephant & Castle, London SEI