22 FEBRUARY 1963, Page 20

Another Note on English Life

Beneath the clouds, the dense Atlantic gloom, three girls in coloured macs stepped gaily by, of seventeen or so, jettnes files in bloom, a Balbec frieze, a pleasure to the eye.

Beneath their macs were vivid summer dresses, sleeveless and brief, but limbs would not be bare to burning sun or any hot caresses

whilst clouds were overhead, and everywhere.

At Europe's dim and misty north-west reaches the mackintosh implies a private rite.

Not stark and bronzed as on gay Latin beaches, here nudity is pale and out of sight.

Yet love is love, the same the whole world over. Don't decent lovers seek seclusion first? Ah, yes. But what extremes these dull clouds cover of rapes and murder, sex-crimes at their worst.

BERNARD BERGONZI ,