The Oldie - November 2011

Page 3

65 Newman Street, London W1T 3EG

www.theoldie.co.uk

Editor Richard Ingrams Assistant editor Sonali Chapman

Sub-editor Deborah Asher

Art editor Joe Buckley Commissioning editor Jeremy Lewis Editorial assistant Charlotte Fairbairn Advertising sales manager Lisa Martin

Senior sales executive Azmi Elkholy

Sales executive Jack Watts Publisher James Pembroke

At large Richard Beatty Our quiet American David Kowitz

Sir Alan John Brown

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Ed’s letter…

THERE IS SOME good news this month for all of you who, like me, suffer from fading eyesight.

On page 62 you will find details of how in future you will be able to subscribe to an on-line version of The Oldie which enables you to enlarge the print on your screen.

It will also be of possible advantage to overseas subscribers who currently have to pay up to £52.50 for

I S S U E 2 7 6 • N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1

their annual subscription. In future they can get the magazine not only on line, but on time, for the same price as a reader in the UK.

Of course there will be those who would never dream of parting with the unique thrill of having and holding a brilliant magazine that can be cherished forever – even if it takes a week or two to arrive.

RICHARD INGRAMS

FREE! CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE 32-page pull-out Gift Guide full of fantastic offers, picked and priced exclusively for TheOldie. Includes DVDs, music, books, audiobooks, wine, hampers, plants – plus much more. There’s even a Christmas Quiz to keep you occupied...

C O N T E N T S

Jilly Cooper gets charitable – see page 10

ChristmasGIFTGUIDE20112011

CHRISTMAS QUIZ

INSIDE!

LET US GUIDE YOU LET US GUIDE YOU LET US GUIDE YOU LET US GUIDE YOU LET US GUIDE YOU LET US GUIDE YOU GIFTSGIFTS LET US GUIDE YOU WINE LET US GUIDE YOU LET US GUIDE YOU WINE LET US GUIDE YOU LET US GUIDE YOU LET US GUIDE YOU LET US GUIDE YOU LET US GUIDE YOU MUSIC DVDS FOOD WINEWINE

LET US GUIDE YOU INSIDE: FOOD WINE BOOKS DVDS MUSIC GIFTS PLANTS

12

1412 STILL WITH US…PETER USBORNE Sarah Shannon talks to the children’s book publisher

18 WAITING FOR THE BIRD Ursula Holden on her literary heroine Jean Rhys

ABC Primary Figure: 40,402 Subscription rates for 12 issues: UK £37.50; Europe £42; USA £43; Rest of World £52.50

The Oldie is published by Oldie Publications Ltd, 65 Newman Street, London W1T 3EG ISSN 0965-2507. Printed in England by Wyndeham Group

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All rights of reproduction are reserved in respect of all articles, drawings, sketches etc. published in TheOldie in all parts of the world. Reproduction or imitation of any of these without the express prior written consent of the publisher is forbidden.

TheOldieis available in audio format for the benefit of blind and partially sighted readers through the Talking Newspaper Association. Tel: 01435 866 102 or visit:

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Cover illustration by: Alan de la Nougerede

42 THE SOHO LITERARY FESTIVAL Report and photos from our first literary festival

3238 SUPER MARIO Penny Wark meets legendary Soho café owner Mario Forte

20 THE FALL OF TRIPOLI Andrew Hosken reports on the aftermath

Andrew Hosken reports on the aftermath

34 REMEMBERING CAP’N BOB Bill Hagerty on the life and death of Robert Maxwell

COME TO OUR CARTOON & ILLUSTRATION

WORKSHOP See page 50

FRONT LINE ON THE

48 FRONT LINE ON THE HOME FRONT Leslie Leney remembers the Royal Observer Corps

Leslie Leney remembers the Royal Observer Corps

IN PRAISE OF FAILURE

53 IN PRAISE OF FAILURE Stephen Pile, chronicler of the abysmal, brings us up to speed

53 Stephen Pile, chronicler of the abysmal, brings us up to speed

Eddie the Eagle: see page 53

Eddie the Eagle: see page 53