14 SEPTEMBER 1991, Page 26

Chartered citizen

Sir: Joanna Coles (31 August) could have saved herself a lot of trouble, and space in your journal for matters of greater sub- stance, if she had agreed to the conductor's initial request to change her seat; similarly Nicholas Bornoff, if he had reported his affliction in conventional language in the first place. Neither would have lost any- thing thereby, except perhaps their self- esteem. Your readers' sympathy must sure- ly be with the public employees involved, justifiably irritated by the petty but time- wasting self-advertisement in which a supe- rior education enabled your contributors to indulge.

John Lister

1 Arboretum Road, Edinburgh