20 NOVEMBER 1993, Page 35

A very ancient title

Sir: William Cash's recent article (`One lets it all hang out', 16 October), mentions me briefly 'as old Etonian actor "Baron" Clement von Franckenstein'. The quotation marks around Baron I find intolerable.

William knows very well that I hardly ever except in the most formal circum- stances use my title, but it is a legitimate title given to my family in 1670 by the Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and I am incensed that by putting it in quotes Mr Cash has demeaned a very ancient European title.

Clement von Franckenstein

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