Sir, – I would like to express my thanks to John Banville for his welcome tribute to subeditors (Weekend Review, December 3rd). It is an honourable trade which has spared ungrateful publishers many court appearances and the blushes of hasty reporters. I did miss a few in my 45 years in the job but “Pensioner struck by lightning discharges herself” remains on the record as a splendid warning to young wordsmiths. – Yours, etc,
MAURICE NEILL,
Bangor,
Co Down.