He had an unerring eye for the approach which would rankle most with his recipients. Writing to Harriet Harman, then of "The National Council for so-called Civil Liberties", he began: "I saw you on television the other night… Why should an attractive lass like you want to confuse her pretty little head with complicated matters of politics, jurisprudence, sociology and the so-called rights of man? Leave such considerations to us men, that’s my advice to you. A pretty girl like you should have settled down by now with a husband and a couple of kiddies." If she must work, he continued, she should consider a career such as "that of model, actress, ballroom dancing instructor or newsreader", before enclosing a pound for her to buy a pretty dress and urging the future MP to get in touch with "my friend Lord Delfont".
4 responses so far ↓
1 Eva // Nov 23, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Whew – talk about taking big bites out of life!
2 MarkS // Nov 24, 2008 at 11:31 am
Now that’s what I call an obituary!
3 Cleanthes // Nov 24, 2008 at 11:44 am
He appears to have been an almost stereotypical contrary Wykehamist.
I speak from experience…
4 gene berman // Nov 26, 2008 at 4:53 pm
The comparison that comes to my mind—I don’t know exactly why—is Ambrose Bierce.
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