16 OCTOBER 1982, Page 20

Sir: Mr David Taylor in his 'Saying good- bye to

Oxford' (9 October) makes a most serious statement that a friend was warned by his prospective employer not to get a first-class degree there. Unless Mr Taylor provides the names of his friend, the com- pany and the interviewer I shall consign this canard to my wastepaper basket containing such myths as 'Russians with snow on their boots' and, 'You can't get pregnant while breast-feeding a baby'.

R. M. Langton

16 Dartmouth Place, Corney Road, London W4