Sir, – I have a certain sympathy with the fada brigade. We apostrophied ones also suffer. In my case, there’s an additional handicap – the lower case “d” of my surname, not always recognised even by this august newspaper of record.
In 2014, I was fortunate to meet, again, one of the examiners for my PhD way back in 1977. An eminent scholar, he flattered me by saying “I remember you!”
“Derek,” I retorted, “You have examined probably hundreds of doctoral theses – how could you possibly remember mine?”
“Oh, I don’t remember the thesis at all,” he replied. “But I do remember your name. That small d apostrophe capital A of your name caused merry hell for the university’s early computers!”
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And do you know? It still does. – Yours, etc,
IAN D’ALTON (Ian d’Alton),
Naas,
Co Kildare.
