I was supposed to go to this event with John White, but it seems he blew me out about a week before (story of my life this, John).
But then, a “quite by chance” encounter with Bobbie Scully (at the Van Gogh we think) rescued my evening. My correspondence with John Easom on 6 March confirms. I wrote:
> I believe you placed John S White on the guest list as well. Sadly, he is unable to chaperone me that evening, so his name need no longer appear on the list.
> However, I ran into Bobbie Scully unexpectedly last night (what a small place London is) and she has volunteered to take John’s place, as long as it isn’t too late to add her name to this list. She is also 1984 and might be on your lists as Barbara Scully.
Best wishes and see you Thursday
Why I thought I needed chaperoning for anything I have no idea, but Bobbie certainly did join me that evening at Tiger Tiger I recall.
I remember chatting with quite a few people, not least Mark Thomas, sharing reminiscence of my headline piece when he was elected President of the Union (to be Ogblogged in the fullness of time).
I also met John Easom for the first time that evening, I am pretty sure.
It was quite noisy, though, so I seem to recall Bobbie and I not hanging around too long and heading off in search of a quieter place to eat and have a chin-wag. I think we might have ventured to a Chinese Restaurant for that purpose. We were in that part of town.
Bobbie might remember better than I do…
…or perhaps not.