Sir, – I was taken right back to my childhood in the UK reading about the possible origin of the word "Segotia" (Frank McNally, An Irishman's Diary, March 23rd). My father, a London Cockney, would often greet a friend with the words "How are you, me old Segotia", so I just assumed it was a slang word for mate.
I believe his grandfather came to London from Dublin when he was a baby so I’m now wondering if it was an expression he had picked up from the Irish side of his family. Language is just fascinating. – Yours, etc,
JOAN SMYTH,
Dublin 13.