Letter : Skilful skull

Sir: How sad that the Royal Shakespeare Company's spokeswoman, in response to Jonathan Hartman's offer of his skull for the part of Yorick the Jester, could only say that "a musician" had already bequeathed his some years ago ("Alas, poor Yorick, I'll play his skull", 1 March). Presumably it is still in the RSC's possession.

The musician in question was the Polish composer and pianist Andr Tchaikowsky, born in Warsaw in 1935. His parents fell victim to the Nazis, and he escaped to France and returned to Warsaw after the war. In 1957, he settled in England where he gave many concerts. He died in Oxford in 1982.

Yours faithfully,

PETER TEGEL

London, N8

1 March