Category: That Reminds Me . . .

THE longest six months of my life was spent working at a cardboard factory in the gap between leaving school and starting a journalism course. It paid extremely well, with … Continue readingNot cut out for cardboard

OVER the years I have heard many examples of inspiring teachers whose enthusiasm gave their young charges a lifelong passion for the subject. In my case, however, love of English … Continue readingShakespeare v Wodehouse

IN the days before technology took over and nerds ruled the world, national newspaper production was oiled, indeed well-oiled, by an ocean of alcohol. Daily Mail sub-editors and newsdesk staff would think … Continue readingBooze of the World

MANY years ago the missus and I decided that what the world needed was a book about George Carman, the brilliant defence barrister whose acquitted clients included Jeremy Thorpe, accused … Continue readingStitched up by George Carman

IN THE late 1970s and early 1980s I used to do casual sub-editing Saturday shifts on the News of the World in Manchester. The night editor was a virtually spherical chap named … Continue readingBacon butties and Gordon Greig

IN A recent column I recalled how my parents enjoined me to follow a career in law, which I evaded by judiciously failing A-level Latin, thus ensuring a rejection from Leeds … Continue readingBrief encounters

AS A child, kicking a tennis ball interminably against a wall on the back street because I’d read that this was how Bobby Charlton honed his soccer skills, I used … Continue readingFootball fans sing my name

THE morning after a fairly heavy Saturday night, a brisk walk with the dog through the heather in the rain failed to lift my spirits. There was only one thing … Continue readingMeat Feast

ONE of the most common nightmares, I have been led to believe, involves sitting an exam for which one is completely unprepared. In my case, it actually happened – and … Continue readingWhat’s Latin for failure?

WHENEVER my better half and I were forced to admit that we worked for the Daily Mail, the first response would be: ‘Do you know Nigel Dempster?’ Swiftly followed by: ‘Do … Continue readingNigel D and Lynda Lee