Salacious stories in Witney
I spent Friday night in Witney, speaking to David Cameron’s supper club. I accepted for three reasons - first, because they said I was being asked back “by popular demand” ; secondly, it is great fun; and thirdly…well the clue is in the first sentence.
I spent most of the last three months wishing I had said no. It turned out I had accepted for “Trafalgar Night”, where the last three speakers had been the former Commodore of the Royal Yacht, the head of maritime history at the Defence Academy, and the historian Andrew Roberts. Apparently Andrew (who spoke standing on a chair for some reason) talked on the death of Nelson, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Great.
Anyway, I had a plan. I simply e-mailed Andrew and asked him for every Trafalgar lecture he had, except for the one on the death of Nelson. Unfortunately my plan backfired when he was unable to help. Great.
The day was saved by Kate Williams’ superb biography of Emma Hamilton which I picked up in Wallingford’s excellent bookshop, and so I regaled Witney with the details of Nelson’s torrid love affair - kind of Kate Moss meets (General) Mike Jackson. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Thanks Kate, I owe you one.
H Bray said on October 24th, 2006 at 5:16 pm:
You might like to know that Lady H used to live at 2 Queen Anne’s Gate, where the European Parliament now has it offices… Story goes that she is still there in spirit. Different kind of European adventures these days however.