Category Archives: Class

The judge had led quite a sheltered life

Posted on June 4, 2018 by clivedav184z

Like Carman, the Honourable Sir Joseph Donaldson Cantley was from Manchester. But that was just about all they had in common. Far from having a rackety private life, Cantley was rumoured to have been a virgin until the age of … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, History, Notebook | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Notebook

Posted on May 5, 2018 by clivedav184z

These were the days when announcers wore dinner jackets in the evenings, and he explains this practice: “In the evening most of the people of our sort did change into dinner jackets, if they weren’t wearing white ties and going … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, Media, Notebook, World War 2 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bullingdon-esque

Posted on April 16, 2018 by clivedav184z

One of the books I’m reading at the moment (for research purposes, really) is the diary of Duff Cooper (1890-1954),  Cabinet minister, bon vivant and David Cameron’s great-great uncle. (You can see the resemblance in the photo.) The early stages … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, History, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

All lit up

Posted on December 21, 2016 by clivedav184z

Out of step in the Virginia boondocks, a Christmas lights snob learns how to enjoy being gaudy: After the first Christmas, when I didn’t put up any decorations outside our house, the lady next door—a sweet, Christian Secret Service agent—presented … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Notebook

Posted on December 19, 2016 by clivedav184z

There was one day, unforgettable, when I did go back to Hoxton… I was thirteen or fourteen and had been at Christ’s Hospital for two or three years. Suddenly, after the years of Hoxton’s emptiness, I once more had a … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, Notebook, World War 2 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Castes

Posted on November 30, 2016 by clivedav184z

A trip to Birmingham to make a TV programme about people’s attitudes to Brexit leaves Adrian Chiles pondering the question of social cohesion, or the lack of it. From his column in the RSA’s house journal, which doesn’t seem to … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, UK politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The “Do you live in a bubble?” quiz

Posted on April 15, 2016 by clivedav184z

“The higher your score, the thinner your bubble…” The questions are geared towards an American audience, but it’s an interesting exercise all the same.

Posted in Class, US politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Underground

Posted on December 18, 2015 by clivedav184z

Britain’s last deep coal mine is being shut down: “The National Union of Mineworkers, which used to have more than 500,000 members, is left with just 100 following the closure of Kellingley.” What an incredible statistic. I couldn’t help thinking … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, Economics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Notebook

Posted on November 27, 2015 by clivedav184z

The conflicting attitudes towards Philby between the sister services of British intelligence would expose a cultural fault line that predated this crisis, long outlasted it, and persists today. MI5 and MI6 — the Security Service and the Secret Intelligence Service … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, History, Politics, Uncategorized, World War 2 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Notebook

Posted on July 24, 2015 by clivedav184z

Since last I kept you my neglected,  imperfect,  haphazard diary much seems to have happened.  I have twice spoken in the House of Commons, been to America,  dined with Kings,  recovered and lost again my high spirits. No one now … Continue reading →

Posted in Class, History, Notebook, UK politics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment