Letters: It’s time for the common cup to return to communion

The Bull of Oman

Sir: There was one significant omission in the cast of characters mentioned by Charles Moore in his notes on the Sultan of Oman’s armed forces (Notes, 19 February): General Sir Timothy Creasey KCB . The omission is all the more surprising given the key role Margaret Thatcher played in getting General Tim to take up the Sultan’s invitation to go back out to Oman as deputy commander in chief and chief of defence staff.

Having been instrumental in achieving a satisfactory resolution of the insurrection in Dhofar as a senior loan service officer, General Tim was highly regarded by the Sultan but he was not keen to take up the offer of direct employment. His return was seen as both a favour to a friendly head of state and important in maintaining British influence. Mrs. Thatcher therefore allowed terms of employment which enabled Sir Tim to be re-engaged in the British army weeks after his retirement on terms so favourable that questions were asked in the House, and serve His Majesty on loan service.