WOULD-BE historians who rely on reading works of others - who, in turn probably relied on previous ones - often research selectively to support their own political stand, then reject a source if first-hand knowledge of it does not suit those politics.

This is what Mr Spiteri appears to do. He blames workplace management for the Wilson era chaos - yet he ignores the rail strikes, the hospital porters' strike closing down operating theatres, firemen's strikes with the Army banned from using the council fire engines, the uncollected rat-infested refuse lying about the streets and the dead bodies waiting to be buried. Management was helpless in the face of this.

The country was ruled by the unions, which were allowed to strike in support of each other. Its leaders met at Downing Street every month to give Mr Wilson his orders. No wonder so many people are correcting Mr Spiteri.

M COLDWELL, Worcester.

6 READERS of the interesting article on Julius Harrison (Evening News, April 14) may be interested to know that Harrison composed a short Elegy on "Troyte" Griffith (a Malvern architect, a close friend of Elgar and the subject of the original variation) after the latter's death early in 1942.

Griffith had been Honorary Secretary of the Club since its formation by Elgar in 1903, and Harrison was an active and influential member during his time in Malvern.

He became the Concert Club's Vice-President later in 1942 and continued to correspond with its Secretary until shortly before his death, but sadly the score of the Elegy (even in manuscript) seems not to have survived.

MICHAEL MESSENGER,

St Peter's Road, Malvern.