7 JANUARY 1995, Page 26

Untimely death

Sir: With respect to William Trevor (Books, 17/24 December) Beachcomber did not die in 1949. He died 30 years later, during the Winter of Discontent.

The man who told him he was past it was Alistair Burnet, in 1975.

Tom Carter

16 New Cross, Somerton, Somerset