16 OCTOBER 1993, Page 28

Dying to know

Sir: Alan Watkins (Diary, 2 October) regrets the death of 'friends and acquain- tances from politics or journalism who failed to reach 60'. His list of names makes me ask if one should commiserate with him for having had no women-friends or whether the evident health of those he has brings him consolation.

Caroline Dawnay

14 Sterndale Road, London W14