We can only believe that this is a move to muddy the waters over the real issue of selective distribution - a

We can only believe that this is a move to muddy the waters over the real issue of selective distribution - a system that brands operate to restrict supplies and maintain high prices.". But it is one people can relate to straight away."I have never spoken to anyone who has ever taken offence at that sense of humour."As an example, I think we had been in Bosnia for three weeks and the padre asked me if I had any risque photos of my wife I said 'No', and he asked me if I wanted any I laughed because it was funny. AN ARMY chaplain accused of harassment and indecent assault was a "soldier's soldier" with an "earthy" sense of humour, a court martial heard today. Padre Captain Richard Landall, 41, enjoyed bawdy jokes with his colleagues who never took offence, the court martial was told. On the sixth day of the hearing at Aldershot, Hants, Captain Joseph Strachan told the court: "The padre has got a very keen sense of humour, a soldier's sense of humour, sometimes an earthy sense of humour. We have been seeling their products for over seven weeks and have given them access to inspect the full range."They have repeatedly refused to meet us to discuss supply issues. "Tommy Hilfiger is a globally respected brand and we owe it to all our consumers that whenever they buy Tommy Hilfiger merchandise they can be sure it is genuine," said Fred Gehring, chief executive of Tommy Hilfiger Europe."We are therefore determined to take this legal action to stamp out the trade in counterfeit goods".The writ, which includes a claim for damages, calls for an injunction to restrain Tesco from infringing trademarks and "passing off" clothing and accessories as having been made by Tommy Hilfiger.The writ also calls for the supermarket chain to destroy all remaining allegedly counterfeit Hilfiger-branded items in its possession and to identify "all persons and corporations" which had supplied it with the allegedly counterfeit goods.John Gildersleeve, a director of Tesco, said that if there was ever doubt about the authenticity of its goods, it would withdraw them inmediately."We don't understand why Tommy Hilfiger has taken this action now. The company said that clothing was sent to the United States to be tested.

A spokesman said that Tommy Hilfiger had carried out exhaustive "due diligence" studies to establish what was counterfeit, adding: "You do not go up against a company like Tesco without having done your homework first."Tesco had bought the merchandise from unofficial sources - the so-called "grey market" - as part of drive to target designer labels which refuse to supply the chain on the grounds that their stores are not the right environment for expensive clothing.The Hilfiger offer, available in 200 stores, is the latest in a series of high-profile attempts to sell leading brands at cheaper prices.Tesco has targeted several designer labels in this way, starting with the sale of cheap Levi jeans and followed by offers on Calvin Klein clothes.On Wednesday, to the fury of Umbro, it started selling official England and Scotland World Cup football shirts for about 25 per cent less than other British retailers.A spokesman for Tommy Hilfiger said yesterday that the issue was not about Tesco selling its goods cheaply, but whether the customer was being sold counterfeit goods. It added that there "would not be any issue if brands like Tommy Hilfiger agreed to supply us directly".Undercover agents bought sample goods from 25 Tesco stores at the time of the promotion which started on Easter weekend. IN THE latest twist in the war between supermarkets and designer labels, Tesco was yesterday served with a writ accusing the stores of selling fake Tommy Hilfiger goods. The US sportswear fashion business claims that some clothing on sale in the supermarkets was the work of counterfeiters and has served a writ seeking damages and a High Court injunction to stop the stores selling allegedly fake products But Tesco immediately reacted by saying that it "absolutely believes" that the garments on sale are genuine and accused Tommy Hilfiger of trying to "muddy the waters" over the issue of selling designer labels in supermarkets. The list included the producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, the director Sir Peter Hall, the West End producers Duncan Weldon and Bill Kenwright, William Weston, general manager of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the heads of most of the subsidised companies in England.They wrote to Chris Smith, the Secretary of State for Culture, who appointed Gerry Robinson and has supported his reforms, saying: "We totally support the reasons for the drama panel resignations, and we would not wish to serve on any Arts Council of England panel whose Chair is not a full member of the Council."Mr Robinson, who is also chairman of Granada, defended his position yesterday, saying:"Panel chairmen will have the opportunity to attend and take part in Council discussion of substantive matters of particular relevance to their art form."Direct access to Council will be at whatever regularity is necessary to ensure good and well-informed governance."But his assurances have failed to placate growing unease in the arts world.Lady Deborah Macmillan has resigned as chair of the dance advisory panel, and the broadcaster Stephen Phillips has indicated that he will resign as chairman of the Council's touring panel..

The panel, led by the West End producer Thelma Holt, resigned last week in protest against changes brought in by the new Arts Council chairman, Gerry Robinson. These changes involved a lesser role for the expert panels and no guarantee that the panel's chair would be a member of the new Council.The Council hands out pounds 400m in grant and lottery cash to arts companies and venues in England.Yesterday more than 50 leading lights in British theatre said they would be boycotting the Council. THE two families of Diana, Princess of Wales, are to mark the first anniversary of her death with prayers - privately and separately. Her sons, Princes William and Harry, will be with the Queen, their father and grandfather at a private family prayer service at Crathie Church, Balmoral, Buckingham Palace announced today. On the same day, August 31, Diana's brother and sisters will hold a private memorial service 400 miles away on the banks of the lake at their ancestral home, Althorp.. SOME of the biggest names in British theatre have written to the Secretary of State for Culture stating that they will refuse to serve on the Arts Council's expert advisory panels in the wake of the resignation of the drama panel. The committee is deciding whether allegations against consultants James Wisheart and Janardan Dhasmana, and Dr John Roylance, former chief executive of the United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust, have been proved as fact..