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One of my great-great-grandfathers, William Prowting Roberts, practised in London as a solicitor between the 1840s and 1860s.

He frequently appeared as an advocate to...One of my great-great-grandfathers, William Prowting Roberts, practised in London as a solicitor between the 1840s and 1860s.

He frequently appeared as an advocate to defend trade unionists before the magistrates when they were being prosecuted for indulging in trades-union activities.

Indeed, as a result of his efforts, he became known as the miners attorney-general.

My mother has among her possessions the wig which he wore in court.

I have always wondered what it was that entitled him to have worn it as he was certainly never a member of the Bar.

Perhaps that entitlement still survives in a forgotten corner of legal protocol and would assist Mr Kennedy today in avoiding having to lobby the Lord Chancellor (or to pay to dine with him?) to join our learned brethren bewigged in court.George Josselyn, Bircham Dyson Bell, London, SW1