Blog Archive ~ October 2010
Still Alive and Kicking
I was the guest last night of the nonagenarian Sir Thomas Macpherson of Biallid CBE MC TD DL, at a dinner in the City of London. Sir Tommy's autobiography, Behind Enemy Lines has been published this week, and as he is Britain's most decorated living war hero of the Second World War (three Military Crosses, three Croix de Guerre, and a Legion d'honneur), I am much looking forward to reading it. But I want to share with you just one story of his courage:
This weekend's theatre
My weekend began with a trip to the Menier Chocolate Factory to see A Number starring Timothy and Sam West. It's always fascinating to see great theatre families working together, and in the past I have seen the Richardsons and the Redgraves, so adding the Wests was a bonus.
A dinner to celebrate lunch
Last night, I attended a dinner at Grosvenor House to celebrate 80 years of one of Britain's most famous bookshops, Foyles of Charing Cross Road....only Foyles could celebrate 80 years of their famous lunches by holding a dinner. There were 8 speakers, including David Frost, Kate Adie, Freddie Forsyth, Anthony Horowitz and Peter Snow. Our host, Christopher Foyle, reminded us that George Bernard Shaw, H G Wells, Conan Doyle and every Prime Minister since the Second World War, had addressed one of 'Christina's' famous lunches. I had the privilege of addressing the lunches on three separate occasions and must confess, was always terrified, although Christina would always say, "You were wonderful." You may ask, with 8 speakers, what time we all escaped from Grosvenor House, and the answer is just before midnight, but no complaints, it was a great evening.
From an auctioneers to auction
Proof reading
Test Match Special
From an auctioneers to auction
On Friday I travelled down to Maidstone in Kent, to deliver a speech for Clive Emson, whose land and property auctioneers was celebrating it's 21st anniversary. The room was so packed that I wasn't left in any doubt about Clive's popularity in the area, and as I didn't escape until 4.30pm, you will have a clue as to how good a party it was. I returned to London in time to join the film producer, Jeff Steiner, for dinner to discuss the possible re-make of Kane and Abel as a film. He told me that Hollywood are now making films that are either over $100m or under $10m, but not a lot in between. It is clear that Kane and Abel could not be made for under $10m, so it would be necessary to prove to a major studio that it was worth investing a large sum on a book that has already had a mini-series, and has been around for 30 years. I'm not holding my breath.
The pension debacle
I am not by nature a complainer - not my style. However, I confess that the latest ideas that are coming out on taxing pensions are just plain unfair. When the Prime Minister of the day (Margaret Thatcher) recommended to the nation that prudent, sensible and intelligent people save for their old age because the government can no longer afford to keep on dolling out money for pensions, it is scandalous to then say to anyone when they reach retirement age, thank you for saving all that money, but we're now going to tax that as well.
The 'Alimony Sale'
Yesterday evening I attended the opening of the John Cleese sale at the Chris Beetles Gallery. Michael Winner's very witty introduction made it clear that not one penny generated from the sale would be going to his friend, but instead, the entire amount would be finding its way to Alice Faye Eichelberger, his third wife.