Tag: Royal Marsden

More Dr Gordon

I have always wondered how I might avoid involuntary involvement in a photo-opportunity if I had the double misfortune to be involved in some newsworthy incident and then visited by a politician not of my choice. In his Notebook in the FT today, John Willman gave me the answer. He was commenting on Gordon Brown’s visit to the Royal Marsden (“all too redolent of Margaret Thatcher’s predeliction for visiting the victims of the disasters that seemed to afflict Britain with great regularity in the 1980s – again with silent spouse in tow”). Apparently, he goes on, “when Mrs Thatcher made a habit of touring the wards, witty leftwingers had little cards printed saying that in the event of an accident or disaster, they did not wish to be visited by the Iron Lady”. Something to tuck into the wallet, along with the Donor Card (and possibly add as a note to my ICE number on the mobile).

Gordon’s Dunkirk Moment

“. . . Britain at its best in the past 24 hours”, with the evacuation of the Royal Marsden and the splendid work of the emergency services in evacuating patients and staff etc. etc., according to the Dear Leader (a man so lacking in charisma and charm, that he makes the Vulcan ~ you know whom I mean: John Redwood ~ seem entirely normal. Mr. Bean? At least he was funny). Anyway, leaving aside that the evacuation (which undoubtedly was carried out superbly) is what the emergency services are for, try telling commuters on the Western Main Line that this past day has seen Britain at its best.