18 DECEMBER 1999, Page 44

Despond of Slough

From Mr Richard Marsh

Sir: Urbane (OE): 'having the manners, refinement, or polish regarded as charac- teristic of a town'. Not an Old Etonian defi- nition, but Oxford English (Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, Third Edition). Little wonder it is that Sarah Sands and her hus- band caused such disquiet among various Eton alumni (Diary, 11 December). Geog- raphy can be cruel, and which Etonian would care to be reminded of the short step that lies between urbanity and having about him the lingering essence of Slough? Richard Marsh

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