Why I invented the term Brirish

25 September 2012

While I fully agree with Shane O'Doherty (Write Back, September 18) about the usefulness of the term 'Brirish' to describe the many mixed sporting and cultural traditions which span our islands, I have to take issue with his description of the term as 'new'.

I coined this term in December 1999, when I gave a lecture to a conference organised by the British Council, ironically about England. This is confirmed in the official conference report.

I am pleased to see the term is slowly starting to gain currency. Who knows, in time we may even get around to talking about the 'Brirish Isles'.

SIMON PARTRIDGE

London N2

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