I enjoy reading reviews by Laurence King and his write-up of the new film Ashes And Sand (set in Brighton) was no exception (The Argus, November 30).

However, I must take him to task on one point. He refers to the performance of Lara Belmont as "amateur and irritating". In this he falls into the trap of using "amateur" to mean incompetent.

This actress is, as far as I am aware, a professional and has been paid for her work.

This country has a long and honourable tradition of amateur expression in both sport and the arts, as exemplified by cricket matches between the "gentlemen" (amateurs) and "players" (professionals) and by the amateur theatre movement.

People engage in this type of unpaid expression for love of the activity. After all, that is what the word means as it comes from the Latin verb "amare", meaning "to love".

It does not follow that amateur work is less competent than that of a professional.

I have seen amateur performances which were as good as any professional ones and I have seen professional performances which were dire.

-Peter EH Bailey, Brighton