21 SEPTEMBER 1985, Page 21

Names

Sir: I knew Vanessa Ayer best when she was Vanessa Lawson and thought of her instinctively by that name. Peregrine Worsthorne doesn't think of me instinc- tively by the name 'the George Gales' and in my letter of 7 September I intended to box his ears for implying that he did. But I didn't wish to make a sad occasion sadder and I am extremely sorry if I have caused distress either to Miss Nigella Lawson (Letters, 14 September) or to anyone else.

Patricia Gale

B1 Albany, Piccadilly, London W1