6 MARCH 1982, Page 20

SDP in Oxford

Sir: I fear Alexander Chancellor (Notebook, 20 February) has been seriously ,misled by the Master of Peterhouse's perhaps understandable ignorance of the strength and popularity of the SDP amongst Oxford undergraduates. More Freshmen (and women) joined the Universi- ty Social Democratic Club last term than either the Conservative Association or the Labour Club. Over 800 recently flocked to listen in rapture to Roy Jenkins, at a time when senior Cabinet ministers rarely attract more than 50 to Tory meetings.

Nicholas Cranston

Trinity College, Oxford