Slobs and snobs
Simon Heffer’s article (‘The slob culture’, 15 January) identifies a long-standing decline. I live in Bangkok, Thailand, and on Christmas Eve I was in the lobby of a five-star hotel where milling around were representatives from the Caucasian world dressed in subfuscous clothing, ancient jeans and T-shirts — the uniform of the Western world. Presumably most of these people were preparing to dine in five-star restaurants in the city or in the hotel, but they had not bothered or had not wished to change out of their poolside garb for the evening.
David Reade
Bangkok, Thailand
Simon Heffer caused me to reflect that, during 35 years attending the Royal Opera House, I have observed that the standard of a man’s behaviour is in inverse proportion to the smartness of his dress. The demeanour of corporate patrons (who always dress up) is sometimes disgraceful. People who do not dress up are always there for the right reasons and their conduct is invariably impeccable.
A visit to a grand opera is not an ‘event’. It is simply going to a place of public entertainment, and should not be regarded in the same way as a royal garden party.
Chris Prentice
Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
I am a little surprised at Simon Heffer citing Evelyn Waugh. Mr Waugh has not hitherto been seen as a reliable guide either to matters sartorial (his lurid and inappropriate tweeds were heavily mocked by his ‘friends’) or to good manners and gentlemanly conduct (having intrigued his way into the Household Brigade he was found seriously neglectful of the welfare of his unfortunate men).
Antony Sharples
London SW12
Theatrical history
R.C. Sherriff published an autobiography, No Leading Lady, in 1968, but perhaps it is not so surprising that Robert Gore-Langton omitted to acknowledge any debt to that book in his piece on the author of Journey’s End (‘Truth from the trenches’, 15 January).
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