Greenwich meantime

The picture of the Royal Naval College Greenwich made a handsome impression (THES, February 14), but to write in the caption of its "acquisition" by the University of Greenwich is misleading.

The facts are these: responding to the recommendations of a special study last year, the Government has established an independent charitable foundation which is to take a long lease of the Royal Naval College from the freeholder, Greenwich Hospital. The foundation's purpose is to preserve this historic site and to ensure that it is managed for the benefit of the nation in a manner fitting to its status. It will be for the trustees of the foundation to decide how the buildings are to be used when the Royal Naval establishment leaves, as it will do in a phased operation over the next three years.

The University of Greenwich has been recommended as the most suitable occupant for the future, as a sub-tenant of the foundation. The trustees are taking this recommendation very seriously along with some other possibilities, but final decisions have yet to be made.

Sir Angus Stirling Chairman The Greenwich Foundation for the Royal Naval College