I ENJOY reading the articles which Ron Freethy writes.

However in his recent article Hidden Tockholes he states that on the tombstone of John Osbaldeston, which is sited in the graveyard, is written "Here lies John Osbaldeston, a humble inventor, who raised many to wealth and fortune, but himself lived in poverty and died in obscurity.

The dupe of false friends, and the victim of misplaced confidence."

I would like to point out that these words are not written on his grave.

They are the ones he wrote himself and asked to be put on.

The actual inscription is "John Osbaldeston, inventor of the Weft Fork, born 1780 died 1862.

The inscription was not put on until the mid 1890s.

STEPHEN SMITH, Moorland Avenue, Feniscowles.