6 NOVEMBER 1971, Page 22

Funny man

Sir: I could have foretold that Auberon Waugh would belittle J. B. Priestley whenever he had occasion to mention him: he is that sort of person. However, as an admirer of both Wodehouse and Priestley, I should like to point out that JBP is also a notable humorous writer, that his essays and the best of his plays are superb, and that some of his novels are not without merit. He would not deign to cross polemical swords with Mr Waugh, which is a pity, since if he did tangle with that ineffable book reviewer, the pages of The Spectator would be brightened considerably. He would make mincemeat of Auberon.

William Slater 148 Parsonage Road, Withington, Manchester