Letter: Musical chairs

Sir: With reference to your article 'Last post for the Proms queue jumpers' (9 February), I expect Karen Booth and the other people responsible for the management of the Albert Hall are too young

to remember that before the war theatre-goers could pay 6d for a stool in the queue for pit and gallery. This could be left unattended provided one returned at a stated time to claim it. All stools were collected about half an hour before the box office opened.

I do not remember if this service was run by the theatre concerned or by an entrepreneur, but it was well worth the 6d to avoid long standing, especially in bad weather.

Yours sincerely,

ALISON LEAKEY

Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire

9 February