5 OCTOBER 1996, Page 40

Sir: Taki's attack on Max Hastings (High life, 13 September)

was very amusing indeed — provided one is not Max Hast- ings. But I know of another side to the coin.

A while ago, a wildlife charity of which I was a trustee went into partnership with the Young Telegraph, who ran a competition to help raise some wind. There was a prize of a safari in Kenya at the Trust's expense. The YT made a pig's ear of the job, leaving the fund some £1,500 out of pocket. They said this was just bad luck. I wrote to Max Hastings. By return of post he sent me a cheque for £2,000. Mr Hastings can't be all bad.

But I do think Taki is funny. And, by the way, to cheer him up, I shall be voting for his pal's Referendum Party.

Maurice Coreth

The Coach House, Grove Park, Yoxford, Suffolk