Shame on you, W.B.!

Sir

Your article on p. 1487 of the November issue was unkind and incorrect, and I must come to the defence of British Telecom and my former colleagues in Wales. The vehicle you saw in the “one-time Welsh Spa” was owned and operated by the Post Office, not by British Telecom: the two businesses have effectively been separate for Public Relations purposes for several years, the separation becoming total following legislation last year. BT has its own motor transport and promotions organisations, who, I am sure, would be more careful about the authenticity of any historic vehicle used for PR purposes. Having been responsible for marketing and motor transport in Wales for three years, I am sorry that you seem to have overlooked BT’s genuine interest in motoring, illustrated by its enthusiastic sponsorship of, and active involvement in, two Welsh International Rallies, including sponsorship of the DTV team of two Chevettes in the 1979 “Welsh”. Audio-visual presentations of both Rallies are available and are well worth seeing.

The “vast profits” you refer to are all ploughed back into the national telecomms system so that you and others can enjoy(?) S4C and International telephone calls.

London, EC2 A. V. KNIGHT British Telecom

[My apologies! It perhaps goes to show how confusing Post Office affairs have become. Interesting that there has been no murmur from the GPO! (Is it still called that?) — Ed.)