13 OCTOBER 1990, Page 31

That will do nicely

Sir: On Saturday 22 September my wife and I paid a 'courtesy call' on the British embassy in Moscow to sign 'the book'. The Russian policeman on the gate asked to see our passports (in perfect English). I ex- plained that they had been taken from us at the hotel and would be returned on our departure; then, producing my Lloyd's pass, I asked, 'Will this do?'

`Ah Lleoyds,' he said, bowing and re- moving his cap, 'Please to be entering.'

Jonathan Balcon

The Grey House, Seal, Sevenoaks, Kent