In at the beginning

I read with interest the details of Professor Drasdo and his distinguished career (Optician, June 17) and his brilliant academic progeny.

Of course this came about from the undernamed and undersigned in failing abysmally in stopping Mr Drasdo from thinking that freshers released from (the then rigorous) school regimes and let loose in student life in tertiary education were really keen and only interested in further education!

He won't remember us with all those illustrious names to his credit, but for what it is worth on behalf of those who were his first-year students at Aston in 1961, who were 'in at the beginning', we are delighted that he didn't give up! I apologise, if necessary, for presuming to involve my fellow students Ahmed (?), Len Armstrong, Margaret Bromwich, Ken Harris, Vince Hawley and Mick Hill without permission.

'Seamus' Hooke
Bedworth, Warwickshire