22 JULY 2000, Page 26

From Mr Bryan Magee Sir: Balliol turned down the young

Isaiah Berlin twice, and it was only by switching his choice to Corpus Christi that he got into Oxford at the third attempt. On the other hand, the college from which I write, Keble, turned down Edward Heath for an organ scholarship, and it was only because of that that he went to Balliol. I'm afraid all Oxbridge colleges could compile a more distinguished list of people they have rejected than of those they have accepted. At Oxford this is especially true of the college that is supposed to get the crème de la crème, All Souls.

Bryan Magee

Keble College, Oxford