My one genuine Margaret Thatcher funeral anecdote.
Many years ago, her former personal private secretary passed away at a relatively young age. She attended the funeral and afterwards approached his father to offer her condolences.
Tussle
Tom and Wilson go after Hey Jude. Like two heavyweight boxers slugging it out as if their lives depend on it. Only with big collars and a horn section.
Travels
David (now Lord) Owen was a British Home Secretary, founder of the Social Democratic Party and special envoy to the former Yugoslavia.
NYC
I found myself at a (very fun) social evening tonight, sharing the story of my first visit to America.
In 1988, I ran the Moscow Marathon and raised some decent money for a charity called the Hunger Project. On the back of that, I was invited to a dinner in New York – my first ever visit to the USA, on my 19th birthday. It was not a regular dinner.
Trudell
John Trudell was a poet, activist, musician, member of the group that seized Alcatraz Island in 1969 on behalf of the native American people.
Blood
1971: composer Gavin Bryars records a hobo singing a refrain on the streets of south London. He sets it up as a loop in his office, goes off to lunch, and returns to find his colleagues gathered round and mesmerized. He composes a 26 minute cycle around the refrain.
Amen
Actor Bernard Cribbins on radio last week told this story about comedian Tommy Cooper.
Easy
So, Roger McGuinn of the Byrds was asked to write the music for Easy Rider. He’s sat at breakfast at the Chateau Marmont in LA, struggling with it.
Bob Dylan walks past and asks what’s up. McGuinn shares that he’s trying to find lyrics for this movie theme, and is stuck.
Cheers
Everyone has their personal opinion on the best TV theme tune of all time.
They’re all wrong.
Norton
Graham Norton’s chat show on the BBC is always good value. Tonight’s episode had Charlie Sheen sharing the story of Donald Trump’s wedding gift to him – Trump-brand diamond and platinum cufflinks – which he had valued when renewing his home insurance, only to find they were pewter and zirconium.