Letters in brief

Briefly

There is a centre of wisdom named after Chief Sechele (Neal Ascherson, 16 June): Kgosi (chief) Kgari Sechele Secondary School in Molepolole, Botswana. However, I have to say that it is located next to the Livingstone Memorial Hospital!

Jane O'Rourke, Hove

l PATRICK Wright's attack on the Tory view of heritage is one-dimensional ("England as lost idyll", 16 June). Of course there are many Tories who want to preserve a traditional England that never existed. There are many more who want to drive new motorways through the rural England that still exists. Does Mr Wright support these modernisers I wonder?

Catherine Barmby, London N6

Donald Foreman says that Britain's next head of state "has been in training virtually since birth" (Letters, 16 June), and asks who will succeed Mary Robinson as president of Ireland. The answer couldn't be simpler: the voters of the Republic of Ireland will decide that in an election.

Beairtle Conghaile,

Dundalk, Co Louth

I enjoyed Ivan Waterman's piece on J G Ballard and the imminent film version of Crash, but to suggest that the author has "rather faded from the public eye" is nonsense ("Ballard makes a pile out of pile-ups", 16 June). Flamingo has 14 Ballard titles in print and he remains one of the most challenging authors either side of the SF/mainstream divide.

Nicholas Royle, London W12

l AT LAST Hollywood has recognised that there's an audience for "female" films ("Hankies out...", 16 June). But how many women in high places will it take before the industry realisesthat we can cope with more than the bland, formula feelgood of How to make an American Quilt?

E J Butterworth, London N4