I AM not surprised that there are those who admire usurpers, military dictators, tyrants and murderers (Constantinus was no worse than Stalin in that respect), but I have to point out that The Big Con's brief sojourn in York hardly merits a claim for citizenship (Diary, January 21).

Of course, if Major Perkins is suggesting that the library niches should be used to name and shame "Eight Visitors York Could Have Done Without", I dare say I could think of another seven.

William Dixon Smith,

Welland Rise,

Acomb,

York.

Updated: 11:09 Tuesday, February 01, 2005