Classic cars, Van Gogh and human cannibals

Published: 4:32 PM February 12, 2010 Updated: 1:28 PM October 14, 2020

The past while has been a social whirl, starting with a retirement do for editorial director Richard Thomson, who now has more time for his impressive array of classic cars. I too once had a collection of vintage vehicles but mine were made by Corgi. Then

The past while has been a social whirl, starting with a retirement do for editorial director Richard Thomson, who now has more time for his impressive array of classic cars. I too once had a collection of vintage vehicles but mine were made by Corgi.

Then on to the plush Landmark Hotel in Marylebone for the annual Archant awards - Archant is the company which publishes the Ham&High, among many other things - after our second Readers' Edition won an accolade in the London section. Well done to you all!

The same week included a very pleasant dinner at the Athenaeum Hotel, where invited journos were given a fascinating insight into the making of the Van Gogh exhibition at the Royal Academy. Did you know that in his last weeks Van Gogh completed 70 paintings in 70 days - an impressive fact indeed for someone like me who can't even draw a circle with the aid of a compass.

Dinner was also served at New Scotland Yard, where Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson laid on a ghoulishly fascinating tour of the crime museum.

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All is chillingly real, from the Ruth Ellis noose to the old bath in which Muswell Hill sadist Dennis Nilson dismembered his 15 victims, and the greasy gas cooker on which he boiled their remains.

Close by was the pan used by Peter Bryan to saute the brains of a 'friend' before emulating Sawney Bean by having them for lunch. Traces of cooked brain could still be seen. That part of the tour I'd have preferred after dinner, not before.