Letter: Sir Asil would not have been the first

Sir: The report by Tim Kelsey and Chris Blackhurst about Nadir's quest for a knighthood (report, 15 June) claimed that Asil Nadir would have been the first Turkish Cypriot to receive such an honour had his efforts succeeded.

I would like to point out that this is not correct, as my grandfather, Mehmed Munir Bey, a Turkish Cypriot, received a knighthood in 1947 in the birthday honours list of King George VI. It was given in recognition of services rendered to the Turkish community in Cyprus and he was the first ever Turkish person anywhere to receive such an honour.

Yours faithfully,

VESIME SAMI

Cockfosters,

Hertfordshire

18 June