7 FEBRUARY 1998, Page 27

The last person

Sir: Your correspondent Ronald Spark (Letters, 31 January) is mistaken if he believes that the trade associations of the grocers and greengrocers devised the leg- end 'Will the last person to leave please turn out the lights' ten years ago. In fact, it Was in common use in Sydney, Australia, certainly as early as 1980, in response to the number of young New Zealanders moving into the environs of Bondi Beach; except then it was 'Will the last person to leave New Zealand please turn out the lights.' Barry Max Wills 39A Goldhawk Road, London W12