Arty bottle
Sir: The name of the Holy Father in Rome has never, to my know- ledge been linked in romantic dal- liance or otherwise, with any woman—not even with our former Minister of Arts, Miss Jennie Lee: nor has anyone ever suggested that this might indicate his un- suitability for the job he attempts to do. The fact then that Lord Goodman is a bachelor whose way of life fails to attract the attention of the popular gossip columns, seems to me to be su- premely irrelevant to any comment on the way he does his job; and it would be interesting to know what prompted the irrelevance. I have no doubt that there are many who hold quite sincerely that the Lord Goodman's Chairman- ship of the Arts Council is not without blemish. Then who can do that job and satisfy all con- cerned? Nevertheless, no matter what one's political persuasion, I would have thought that the co- operation between the Minister Miss Jennie Lee and Lord Good- man at the Arts Council had resulted in one—(indeed perhaps the only one!)—appointment of the late and unlamented government, proving a conspicuous and signal success.
Roy Boulting Shepperton Studios Ltd. Broad- wick House, Broadwick Street, London wl Sir: Still staggering from the in- toxicating brew of half-truths in your ten green bottles, may I anchor on the last few lines of the section on Mark Bonham Carter and com- ment (as a member of the now- defunct Consumer Council) that it's a pity that the Council was axed by the Government before Des Wilson could take over as director. That would have left at least two Wilsons who know about people for other useful jobs in the public service—and the Consumer Council could have gone on doing the work that the very-much-alive Con- sumers' Association has said that it can't take over when the Council has been buried.
Virginia Makins The Times Educational Supplement, Times Newspapers Limited, Print- ing House Square, London Ec4
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