Manner of dess of any person riding to hounds is covered by convention, in the same way as the dress for golf, football, rock-climbing or subaqua sports. Clothing is developed for each and every occasion, social or sport, and to deride someone for their mode of dress shows only the ignorance of the derider.

It simply is a fact that some members of the hunt do dress in red coats and this choice of dress need not be defended. Dress may define and identify these people - but I do not deride them for their manner of dress.....but their conduct.

I was reading (in the Radio Times) the views of a transvestite (Turner Prize-winning artist Grayson Perry) in a programme called Why Men Wear Frocks.

He demonstrated parallels between transvestites and leather-clad bikers - 'dressing to impress other men, wearing costumes made of unfamiliar material; risking persoanl injury'........