IN ASSOCIATION WITH ALAN PAINE

The winner of Letter of the Week will receive an Alan Paine Aylsham Fleece Waistcoat. Warm and practical, it is ideal for colder days in the field and available in sizes S-5XL. For more information visit www.alanpaine.co.uk. stalked all over England, Wales and Scotland so I am pretty confident that I know what I am talking about.

His comments about technical fabrics versus traditional clothing are also wrong. I agree that when it comes to clothing, comfort and warmth come first. However, good-quality, traditional, tweed can offer these qualities in abundance, while still allowing the sportsman “to look the part”. His sweeping statement about “blokes who spend their days hitting absolutely sod all with their great-grandfather’s rather-toosmall side-by-sides”, and his call for “more over-and-unders, more accessibility and more diversity”, shocked me, but his labelling of anyone who disagrees with him as “plonkers” left me on the verge of having a stroke.

If the photo above his comments is a recent one, I assume that he will not be making any more gaffes of this type for a while, as he will be too busy preparing to sit his A-levels.

On a more serious note, it may — indeed has, assuming his comments are serious — have escaped his notice that our great sport was built on proud traditions, etiquette, unrivalled Best London guns and respect for other people’s views and opinions. A. Williams, Wiltshire

The Editor responds: Because I have respect for other people’s views and opinions, I have printed your letter in full, but have edited out any gaffe’s (sic).