SIR - Your reporters show great enterprise in the use of our language, especially when it comes to describing the situation of elderly ladies.

I can recall, a while ago, that one who had reached the age of 100 was described as being a 'centurion'. She must have been surprised to find herself in command of 100 Roman soldiers when she became a centenarian.

And in your edition of April 25, a deceased lady of 101 was reported as having 'kept her own council'. I wonder why she had her own coterie of local politicians? We will never know because I expect in that matter, as well as in other things, she kept her own counsel.

COLIN COOK,

Worcester.