Sir: Mr Theodoracopulos asks, 'Can you imagine Winston Churchill in
a track suit?' Yes, I can. Sir Winston invented what might have been called the world's first leisure suit had he not worn it to war. It was called a siren suit. A comfortable, one- piece costume in warm velvet with a zip- fastener at the front and useful pockets, it was created by Turnbull & Asser to his specification. After the war, Sir Winston ordered many of them in claret or bottle-green for wear- ing while painting or relaxing at home. Turnbull & Asser was repairing a green suit for slight singes caused by cigar ash when There's no such thing as a free launch. Sir Winston died in 1964. In recognition of many years of service to her husband, Lady Churchill presented the suit to the shirt- makers and it is now displayed in a glass case at Turnbull & Asser in Jermyn Street.
When President Reagan asked to borrow it for a Churchill exhibition at his library in California, Mr Mohamed Al Fayed, whose family own the firm, was pleased to say yes. As your columnist affects to know some- thing about Churchill and the social history of this country, it is surprising that he does not know about the siren suit. But perhaps not.
Michael Cole
Harrods, Kinghtsbridge, London SW1
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