Letter: Worlock and Catholic schools

Sir: Alice Thomas Ellis, interviewed in the Independent Magazine (24 August), records letters she had received stating that Archbishop Worlock had "closed all the Catholic schools in Portsmouth". This is totally false.

Throughout the Archbishop's episcopacy in Portsmouth I was a member of the Diocesan Schools' Commission. As chairman of that body and as bishop, Derek Worlock was an ardent, active supporter of our Catholic schools. There are 55 Catholic maintained schools and 32 Catholic independent schools in the diocese.

JOHN DOYLE

Petersfield,

Hampshire