Reports are coming in from Rutland of an unfortunate development...
lord bonkers is a pie— Jonathan Calder (@lordbonkers) January 10, 2016Happy Birthday to the oldest living former Liberal MP
James Davidson is 89 today - thanks to Mr Memory from telling me.
He gained Aberdeenshire West (roughly equivalent to the modern Kincardine & Deeside seat) for the Liberal Party.
Wikipedia says of him:
By contrast, Eric Avebury is a mere boy of 87.
* Some sources suggest he was madder than Mad Jack McMad, the winner of last year's 'Mr. Madman' competition.
He gained Aberdeenshire West (roughly equivalent to the modern Kincardine & Deeside seat) for the Liberal Party.
Wikipedia says of him:
During the 1966 general election campaign one of Davidson's main policy points was the establishment of a development authority for the North East of Scotland (on the lines of the Highlands and Islands Development Board) and he was a strong advocate on behalf of small farmers and of improving communications in remote areas like the Highlands by improving road links to the major cities. He also campaigned for better air and sea links with Scandinavia.
Davidson was Liberal spokesman on foreign affairs and defence issues in Parliament, a particularly important brief given the ongoing war in Vietnam and the arguments over Britain's role East of Suez.
In February 1967, he took a leading role in the opposition to the government's plans to raise fees for foreign students at British universities and introduced a Bill to give the people of Scotland and Wales referendums on devolution. This was as part of the Liberal strategy to draw the sting of the increasing popularity of the Scottish National Party and re-establish the Liberal position on 'home rule all round' with the Scottish electorate.He chose not to defend his seat at the 1970 general election. Laura Grimond fought it for the Liberals but lost to the Conservative Colonel Colin 'Mad Mitch' Mitchell.*
By contrast, Eric Avebury is a mere boy of 87.
* Some sources suggest he was madder than Mad Jack McMad, the winner of last year's 'Mr. Madman' competition.
Paul Young: Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)
I love blue-eyed soul, but you have to admit there is something silly about it.
Steve Winwood has said in interviews that when he was making his wonderful covers of Black American records as a teenager with the Spencer Davis Group he did not always understand the words he was singing.
This record from Paul Young, a cover of a Marvin Gaye song, turns the silliness up to 11. Far from being the sort you cannot rely on to be there when you get home, he is such a sweet boy that he will have put the hoover round and have supper in the oven.
I suppose Young is a bit of a guilty pleasure - it was his misfortune to be at his peak in the naff Eighties - but he has a lovely voice.
