Letter: Poetry at Skegness

Sir: I refer to the article 'Lively fragments' (19 August) by Eric Griffiths, in particular, to the reference to the brochure 'The Tennyson Experience'. Mr Griffiths quotes from the brochure: 'People come to Skegness on holiday for many reasons, but not often to honour a great poet' and comments: 'Well, they wouldn't, partly because Tennyson holidayed not in Skegness but at Mablethorpe.'

It may interest Mr Griffiths to know that in fact Tennyson visited Skegness, then little more than a hamlet, frequently, which is not surprising since Skegness is about 14 miles from Somersby, his birthplace - about the same distance as Mablethorpe. He is known to have stayed at at least two local venues - McKinley House, since demolished, and the Vine Hotel, then known as Enderby's Hotel.

Yours faithfully,

RAYMOND B. TAYLOR

Skegness, Lincolnshire