Bunhill: Title tussle

A CHESHIRE business man, Jeremy Holland-Smith, received a strange phone call last week from the City lawyers Ashurst Morris Crisp. Acting for Cunard, owner of the QE2, and the Ritz, it was enquiring about his tiny company, Cunard Developments.

Ashurst came across Holland-Smith's company during research ahead of obtaining an injunction against our old friend Spencer Trethewy, who I told you was trying to start an airline called Cunard Airways. Trethewy, despite saying he would fight all the way, has now decided to change the name. Meanwhile, Ashurst is targeting other Cunards.

'I was bemused,' Holland-Smith tells me. 'My company makes nylon ties which are used for strapping the wings of pheasants, and owns two boats, which my brother and I have for pleasure but occasionally charter out.'

Ashurst was told that pounds 100,000 buys Cunard Developments. So far the offer has not been taken up.