Flat rate

You report, in a mix of outrage and consternation, that about “£2,000 went on 880 bottles of sparkling wine” at the recent farewell party for the provost of University College London (The week in higher education, 19 September). You also quote that “‘the bottles far outnumbered the guests’”. That is hardly surprising: if I found myself at a party where the main sources of refreshment were £2. bottles of fizz, I would soon find a reason not to be there, too.

David Bowers
Head of learning development
University Campus Suffolk