Sir, – Just how low can journalism sink in the pursuit of sensationalism? I refer to the recent article by Jeremy Paxman in the Radio Times Special issue (January 23-30) under the heading "Churchill: the Nation's Farewell"

The readership might have expected a celebration of the man who should properly be ranked as one of the "few" to whom so much was owed by so many.

Instead, Paxman seizes the opportunity to perpetrate an unrestrained hatchet job on Churchill's (perceived) faults and failings throughout his lifetime, He even suggests that Churchill deliberately chose to travel to his burial in Bladon from Waterloo Station so as "to irritate General De Gaulle", and then has the audacity to bewail the fact that "there is unfortunately no evidence" to support that scurrilous suggestion.

Although that comment is so distasteful, it is trivial by comparison with the rest of his diatribe. Almost 30 column inches were devoted to the destruction of any sentiment aroused by the sight of the jibs of the cranes on Hay's Wharf described in commentary by Richard Dimbleby "being lowered in a final salute, unique, (and) strangely touching" as Churchill's coffin travelled past.

Paxman asserts that this action "was held to be a spontaneous bowing in respect. Except that it wasn't anything of the kind." He then presents an alternative explanation of how the actions of the dockers on Hays Wharf, constrained by their blind industrial militancy only agreed to operate the cranes that Saturday afternoon if, in keeping with long-term tradition, their agreement was reached on condition they were bribed by a substantial overtime payment.

The general tenor of the rest of the article seems to support the thesis that Churchill's actions in the past had created intense enmity amongst the dockers, and seems to suggest that this was a justification for the their attitude towards a man they were said to hate, even during his state funeral.

Paxman's obsession with negativity is so totally at odds with the sentiments of a programme celebrating 50 years on. Is it criminal to cherish the positive from the past instead of revelling in its destruction? Richard Dimbleby, commenting at the time, said: "travellers who seek the memorial to this splendid figure of our history will find it at the side of the path in an English country churchyard."

I doubt anyone will ever say the same thing about Jeremy Paxman.

TONY BRENNAN

Sadberge, Darlington.