Saturday, September 19, 2009

Lord Bonkers' Diary: Tinchy Stryder makes an investment

A second day with Rutland's most popular fictional peer.

Tuesday

Lunch at my club with my old friend Tinchy Stryder. Following his success in what my more hep acquaintances call “the hit parade”, he has more than once sought my advice on the investment of his new-found riches. I have, for instance, been able to point him in the direction of a Good Thing in Rutland Railway Consols.

Today he informs me that he is determined to invest in a Liberal Democrat MP, but cannot make up his mind which. Whom would I recommend?

We run through the possibilities: Alan Beith? “I fear you may not be quite His Sort of Thing.” Hazel Grove? A lovely girl, but perhaps a little too racy for the staid Tinchy. Mark Oaten? I have to explain certain delicate matters to an incredulous Stryder – several times.

Eventually we hit upon the perfect answer: Norman Lamb. He has an agreeable manner, a most lovely constituency and, I am informed, a large majority. I shall have the papers sent over to Tinchy by fast bicycle tomorrow.

Lord Bonkers was Liberal MP for Rutland South-West, 1906-10.

Previously on Lord Bonkers

3 comments:

Nich Starling said...

I am assuming you already know that Nroman Lamb's son Archie is Tinchy Stryder's manager ?

Jonathan Calder said...

I wouldn't presume to speak for Lord Bonkers, but I suspect that was the point of this entry. :-)

dreamingspire said...

Alan must be near retiring, but his pension income should be quite good, so a reasonable return is expected on the investment. (Apologies, Alan: long time no see. 1965?)