From Anne Atkins

Sir, - I don't mind Andrew Brown's having a laugh at my expense ( Press, 26 October). I'm sure I deserve it: it is good sport between journalists, and I have done as much to him in the past. So he is welcome to poke fun at me for using the word "alcoholic" - as one might "chocoholic" - of myself when saying I was going to find it hard to give up booze for Lent.

But I was truly sorry that his imagination led him to speculate somewhat wildly regarding the identity of someone I described anonymously in a different newspaper; I also referred to a family friend from childhood. Mr Brown hazarded a guess, on no particular evidence, not only at the profession of the person I described, but even at his theological persuasion.

I never had the intention of giving any more information on this, and will not do so now: I don't particularly want medical or teachers' or musicians' newspapers to deduce that it was a gynaecologist or physics teacher or Baroque violinist. I can, however, assure readers that - as anyone who knows me well can testify - I was not raised in an Evangelical family, nor one with extensive Evangelical connections.

I have never identified myself with any branch of Christianity other than Anglicanism, and I certainly don't consider myself an Evangelical. Nevertheless, I have no desire to cast a slur on Evangelicalism, far less on any "high-profile Evangelical" in particular, and I trust your readers will not take Mr Brown's speculation too seriously.

ANNE ATKINS
6 The Crescent, Bedford MK40 2RU