6 SEPTEMBER 1986, Page 20

Ferry swots

Sir: I can sympathise with Auberon Waugh in his experience on board a cross-Channel ferry (Another voice, 30 August). I have for some time maintained that there must exist a market for a cross-Channel service that is distinctly discriminatory.

Every booking form could be accompa- nied by a short exam paper with questions of a distinctly 'cross-water' flavour, e.g. `Evaluate Xerxes's approach to the cros- sing of the Hellespont,' or 'List the politic- al effects of the loss of the White Ship'.

To obtain a place a pass mark of 65 per cent might prove acceptable, and could produce some agreeable travelling com- panions. On the other hand it might only produce a lot of boring swots.

Alexis Marescaux de Saubruit

Villa La Joya, Torreblanca, Malaga