Overcame M.P. Handicap

The reference in "Outside Left" to the awarding of Upham Scholarships in Salient 5 has been brought to my notice. Having published your article I thought you might like to be briefed on the subject.

As his father, I fondly believe my son won the scholarship fairly and without bias. He has had to overcome a severe physical handicap as well as the handicap of being an M.P.'s son. When he was born, both his feet were back to front and upside down, with his insteps against his calves. As his parents, we have done our poor best to help this situation.

He managed to become head prefect at Nelson College last year and has represented the college at rifle shooting since his first year there. He also manages to play squash and tennis in spite of severe pain. In three and a half years of concentrated work he learned to play the violin sufficiently well to lead the college orchestra and to gain a place in the National Youth Orchestra while still at school last year.

He also won two scholarships at Nelson last year. Really he is quite a capable young man, both with hit hands and his brain, and in spite of being an M.P.'s son, which makes him subject to such ill-mannered articles as you have published. I think he deserved the scholarship.

Maybe I'm biased.