Letter: Too loyal to spy

YOUR ARTICLE "British scientist `sold atom secrets to Stalin'" (4 July) repeated speculation that Sir Rudolf and Lady Peierls were Soviet spies. I was a graduate student of Peierls in Birmingham from 1950, on leave of absence from the Atomic Energy Research Establishment at Harwell, and I later became a close friend. I cannot understand the necessity of giving credence to Rupert Allason's publicity-seeking nonsense about one of this country's most distinguished and loyal adopted sons. Peierls and his wife were widely known to be of the highest integrity, and the colourful Lady Peierls was, in any case, far too conspicuous to be a spy.

LORD FLOWERS

London N20