In your report of Joan Court's hunger strike (Oxford Mail, April 21), you stated that I am 'Diane Gracey, of the Research Defence Society'. I am not.

The only societies to which I belong are SIMR (Seriously Ill For Medical Research, a patients' group) and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

I have made several lone protests in Cambridge against the animal rights' lobby in recent years. My connection with the RDS began when a group of patients mounted a demonstration at the site of the proposed laboratory in Oxford on January 29, which is where I first met Dr Simon Festing, chief executive of the RDS.

When I protest, I do so on my own account and for the many millions with serious illnesses throughout the world.

On Wednesday, April 20, I had pinned to my chest a statement identifying myself and listing some of these conditions -- in addition to MS, they were motor neurone disease, cancer, Aids, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, schizophrenia and coronary heart disease. I could have cited many more.

Knowing that I was planning a counter protest to Joan Court's hunger strike, Dr Festing kindly undertook to turn up in support.

I am glad to say that a passer-by stopped, read my notice, identified himself as a surgeon, wished me well, and assured me that he agreed with me wholeheartedly.

I hope others were similarly persuaded, though I am sure the vast majority of the public are of the same mind anyway.

DIANE GRACEY

Carrick Close, Cambridge