25 JULY 1952, Page 19

Henley Royal Regatta

SIR,—Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu entertains us with many of his sympa- thetic and felicitous observations at Henley. Yet apparently he did not notice the most essential element in the racing—Father Thames. Did he " run" too " softly " in his unceasing course, so as to appear to flow in reverse ? Father Thames didn't- justify Mr. Mallalieu's geography when he wrote: "Further up the river there is music from the fair" and " we managed two wooden stools and settled on them up the river." A spent match would have shown the direction of the stream—from finishing-post and enclosure to the starting-place -at our island. We can thank the wind for assisting the breaking of records, but it did not " cause the waters to go back."—Yours faithfully,

HENLEYENSIS.