2 DECEMBER 1972, Page 27

Orwell

From Sir John Heygate Sir: I have only just read Christopher Hollis's review of The Unknown Orwell in your November 4 issue.

Mr Hollis agrees with the author that Eric Blair almost certainly never beat any boy. It may, however, be of some interest that Blair, KS, was the Sixth Form College praepostor in the same week in which I was the Sixth Form Oppidan praepostor, and together it was our duty to attend a birching carried out by the late Dr Cyril Alington, the headmaster. The College praepostor had to hand the birch to the headmaster.. This is described in my novel. Decent Fellows.

John Heygate Bellarena, Londonderry