1 FEBRUARY 1997, Page 25

Unclaimed treasure

Sir: I like The Spectator and usually like Petronella Wyatt. However, I bridled a lit- tle when I read the item in her Diary (25 January) about the von Trapp daughters, five of whom Petronella describes as 'tragi- cally, remaining spinsters'.

As a spinster myself — it is not for others to say whether tragically — I felt a bit peeved at this casual remark.

LETTERS

I prefer Enid Bagnold's description of finding oneself what used to be called, in the dim and distant past, an unclaimed treasure, . . the sensation is rather like drowning — quite pleasant, once you give way to it.'

Helen Brady

332 Hagley Road, Hasbury, Halesowen