SIR - In your nostalgic picture of the County Magneto, Sidbury (February 3) I could not help noticing the nearby premises of Fong Shee and Fong Quon, the Chinese laundry.

Never particularly imposing premises, they nevertheless had a reputation for the immaculate way in which they laundered gents white linen collars.

There were other reputable laundries in and around Worcester but none to ever equal them in this respect. This was in the days before collar attached shirts became vogue and any detachable collars sent there would be returned spotlessly white, immaculately ironed, starched and glossy. It could be said they resembled plastic, only plastic had not yet been invented.

During my wartime service in the Royal Navy, I always made a point of having a few spare Fong-laundered collars in my kit. These were reserved for special inspections or ceremonial occasions.

Eventually, the navy resolved the perennial problem of untidy necks by introducing a disposable paper collar, but I still preferred my Fong laundering.

On one occasion, a paper collar was inadvertently enclosed in a bundle I sent to the laundry. It was duly returned to me, written on it in ink were the words, "This paper. No can wash."

JOHN HINTON,

Worcester.