Letter: Choristers' diet

Sir: In her admirable paean of praise from the boy treble sound ('Going out on a natural high', 22 March), Tess Knighton suggests that modern protein-rich diets are causing voices to break earlier and earlier. A decade ago, in an attempt to preserve the treble voices of the 11-, 12- and 13-year- old Westminster Abbey choristers as long as possible, we reduced their intake of milk. The experiment was not a success.

Yours faithfully,

MICHAEL KEALL

Magdalene College

Cambridge

The writer was Headmaster of Westminster Abbey Choir School, 1977-87.