Letter: St Alban has best claim to be patron saint of England

Sir: Unlike Sandy Walkington (letter, 26 April), I do not find it self-evident that St Alban has the best claim to be patron saint of England. The case for St John of Beverley is stronger. His care for the poor and handicapped; his ordination of our first historian, Bede; and the fact that Henry V ascribed the victory of Agincourt on the feast of the translation of St John to his intercession means that he would appeal to the compassionate, the educated, and the patriotic. And a holiday on 25 October would be welcome too!

ERIC THOMPSON

London NW2