It must be thirty years since I last set foot in Highgate Cemetery. I’d completely forgotten how atmospheric and tranquil a spot it is. The volunteers who maintain the grounds (the private company that originally administered them bailed out in the 1970s) have done a terrific job of preserving the sense of mystery. I only toured the east section – to see the other half you have to sign up for a guided tour. Some of the new residents since my last visit: Douglas Adams, Alan Sillitoe, Malcolm McLaren, Paul Foot and Eric Hobsbawm (the last two not many yards away from Karl Marx, appropriately enough).
Clive Davis 