Not so gullible
Sir: David Esterly accuses me, somewhat tautologically, of being a gullible journalist (Letters, 28 November) for my lack of unqualified acceptance of his attribution of certain drawings to Grinling Gibbons.
On the second count, I can set your mind at rest: I am not a journalist. As for being gullible, had Mr Esterly read my review with attention he would have realised that my point was not that he was wrong in accepting some of the drawings as Gib- bons's work, but that as it was a contentious issue it would have been useful if he had been permitted the opportunity to put his case.
Mr Esterly also rejects as false my asser- tion that he bullied and cajoled the powers that be into letting him replace the lost Gibbons carving at Hampton Court. A competition was arranged by the PSA and English Heritage with the aim of identify- ing and encouraging young carvers working in Britain. As Mr Esterly fulfilled neither of these criteria, he persuaded political heavy- weights to lobby for him. While I am sure he is the only person to devote his life to carving in Gibbons's style, there is no lack of young craftsmen who would have rel- ished the chance to display their skill.
Annabel Ricketts
Regent's College, Inner Circle, Regent's Park, London NW1
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