11 OCTOBER 1986, Page 32

Serious slip

Sir: May I, out of fairness, be permitted to correct a serious proof-reading slip in your issue of 27 September last which had the effect of gravely debasing the most con- siderable compliment that I was pleased to be able to pay Mr Frank Giles in my review of his autobiography? What I wrote (and I have the transmitted facsimile before me) was that he had 'managed to identify them [ie "the great issues of his times"] better than any governing politician I can think of , and not just 'one' specimen of that genus, as alas printed.

Alastair Forbes

1837 Château d'Oex, Switzerland