Letter: Ignorance of the educated classes

Sir: Nothing that Susan Elkin ('Please, sir, how do you thread a needle?', 2 August) has written surprises me any more.

Last week I was laughing with a friend with nine grade-A GCSE and three A-levels, now in her second year of university, who is unsure as to which vegetables grow under or above the ground. She in turn was laughing at her new room-mate, whom she had taught to boil an egg. Her friend understood the finer points, but then asked how the eggs were removed from the water.

Yours faithfully,

PETER BIGG

Coggeshall, Essex

3 August