National Trust’s uncalled-for ‘outing’ of donor
sir – The National Trust is celebrating in its properties our “LGBTQ heritage”– neatly commodified and packaged for public consumption (report, July 21).
Its “outing” of Wyndham Kettoncremer, the owner of Felbrigg Hall in Norfolk, is of particular interest to me. He restored Felbrigg, wrote its history, maintained it beautifully and then left it to the Trust.
His sexuality was incidental and scarcely headline material. It certainly wasn’t the main focus of his life, which he was fortunate enough to be able to live in as private, or as the Trust would say “hidden”, a way as he wished.
I was his godson and often stayed in his house. Of course he was gay, but what’s the story? He was already “out”, given the constraints of the period in which he lived.
The “outing” of him by the Trust for its own commercial reasons feels exaggerated and mean-spirited – another kind of intolerance.
Tristram Powell London SW9
sir – I am disappointed that the National Trust has sunk to such a low moral and ethical standard as to be prepared to make a film and money by “outing” RW Kettoncremer.
Wyndham, who was my godfather, was an intelligent, charming man who dedicated much of his life to Norfolk. He was discreet about his sexuality, and I can see no reason why the National Trust should not have respected this. It has betrayed his gift and his trust.
E C Coryton Saltash, Cornwall