31 AUGUST 1985, Page 5

CONFUSION

WE have confused our readers because we were confused ourselves. In our leader two weeks ago about the baleful effects of tour- ism, we attributed sentiments to Mr Michael Middleton which are those of Mr Michael Montague, chairman of the English Tourist Board, who is, of course, not to be confused with Edward Montagu, better known as Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, chairman of English Heritage and author of the Montagu Report about historic buildings. We apologise to Mr Middleton, who is chairman of the Civic Trust which, we note, by its policy of encouraging such things as the painting of buildings in pretty pastel shades regardless of local traditions, has also played its part over the years in diluting the Englishness of England.