An ex-prisoner, a traumatised carer, a bereaved fish-and-chip cafe proprietor, a depressed lorry driver – and a queen. As book clubs go, this one is certainly unusual, as is the location for their meeting: Clarence House. But as tea and shortbread are ser... See more
He was the man who dusted off the cobwebs and helped steer the monarchy into the modern media age. The inventor of the walkabout, he also kept the peace between the Palace and Mrs Thatcher - and made the Queen laugh. Sir William Heseltine, who died on Oct... See more
Just by Holborn Tube station, I heard the most priceless chant of the day. 'Here's our message to the cops,' they cried. 'Get a real f****** job!' Here in the middle of the working week were a band of students (a few of them, it must be said, decidedly ma... See more
The last branch of the last bank has recently vanished but never mind. There are numerous places on this high street which say 'Money Transfer' on their signs. Along the main half-mile stretch, I jot down 11 of them. If this is peculiar, what I find even ... See more
Here's just one unfunded, undeclared hole in our public finances. It amounts to a loss of £1billion between now and the due date of the next general election. It is, in fact, one of many similar holes which, collectively, are now turning into a sieve. And... See more
