28 SEPTEMBER 1996, Page 38

'Paki at the top

Sir: I'm obviously a lightweight, but it is with great alacrity and anticipation that I turn to Taki's column soon after the weekly arrival of The Spectator. The bile heaped on his pet hates brings great delight, and the recent vituperative execration of Messrs Hastings and Mellor (21 September) brightened the start of a dreary day. '

Certainly Taki hit the nail on the head in his descriptions of these two awful people — but, really, to accuse Max Hastings of sycophantic social climbing is a bit rich! For all his ability to titillate us with his bitchy, 'Feel free to skip the account of my potty-training.' but witty column, he is very much living in a glasshouse in accusing anyone of social mountaineering.

Weekly, one reads his obsequious effu- sions about the rich, famous and well bred, and very good fun it is. One must hope that he had his tongue firmly in his cheek when penning this article, That said, let's hope that any recognition of his own foibles will not dilute the vigour of his column.

John Bidwell

Randolphs, Iden, Rye, East Sussex