Letter: Only joking

Sir: Your report (14 July) of my comments about Eileen Pembridge, one of my rivals in the recent election for the presidency of the Law Society, at the society's AGM was misleading.

My speech was delivered from a prepared text, copies of which were distributed. It is clear from the text that I did, in fact, speak in warm praise of Ms Pembridge's undoubted fighting qualities. I described her as "a woman of indomitable energy, courage and sincerity".

The reference to "dangerous feminist" was clearly jocular and nearly everyone took it as such.

Yours faithfully,

Martin Mears

President, The Law Society

London, WC2