24 NOVEMBER 2001, Page 40

Tailored insults

From Mr Frank Scott Sir: Jonathan Ray ('Measuring up', 10 November) described tailoring abbreviations. It reminded me of many years ago when I was one of several hundred standing in line for a uniform. When I reached the tailor, I looked down at his notes and said, 'What does VWH mean?'

'Very wide hips.'

Further down I saw 'What does that mean?' I asked.

'Head pokes forward.'

When I was measured he wrote `WLC'. I looked at him. 'Walks like a camel,' he said.

Frank Scott

Brockworth, Gloucester