7 AUGUST 1993, Page 23

Sea dog

Sir: Unlike Sir Alec Guinness (Diary, 17 July) when I think of the Cunard liner Mau- retania no fond thoughts come into my head. But then Sir Alec didn't sleep in a crew cabin with seven other shipmates, he didn't smell the farts, the smelly socks, and see the uplifting sight of underpants hang- ing up to dry on a line slung across the cabin, nor, I presume, was he woken up at all hours of the day and night because of different 'watches'. I'm afraid I missed the charming steward. My recollection of Cunard cuisine is food from the ship's gal- ley that a pig would have turned its nose up at.

R. Lowe

(Ex-Fireman, Engine Room), Boetzowstrasse 83, W407 Berlin Germany