Letter: Varieties of orange

Sir: I refer to Kevin Jackson's article "The true story of Clockwork Orange" (2 December). It is hardly surprising that no Cockney could be found that had heard the phrase "as queer as a clockwork orange" as this was a well known Scouse saying from the Liverpool of the 1950s and 1960s. Burgess did not make it up, he merely got its geographical location incorrect. He is, however, correct that it had no reference to sexual orientation as "queer" had no such connotations at this time.

JOHN LOWRY

Kenilworth, Warwickshire