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I S S U E 2 8 3 • J U N E 2 0 1 2

Ed’s letter…

I have been waiting for some time for the invitation to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into the press – but to date I have heard nothing.

However should his Lordship wish to gain a more positive, salubrious picture of journalism than that which he has hitherto been given, then the voice of The Oldie deserves to be heard.

As a remote and ineffectual High Court Judge, Lord Leveson may be slow to understand what lies behind the phone hacking scandal – the fact that Mr Murdoch’s employees are so ignorant and idle that the only way they can gather information is by underhand and illegal snooping.

Being journalists of an altogether superior calibre, we at The Oldie have no need to stoop to such desperate measures.

RICHARD INGRAMS

O N T E N T S

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Still with us…SANDY WILSON The composer and lyricist talks to Alice Pitman

I ONCEMET...compton mackenzie Netta Martin remembers a bedroom encounter 25

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Cover illustration by: David Stoten

38

DEATH WITHOUT A STING John McGarry on the joys of dissection father and son Mark Olden on Ted Ray and his son Andrew 46

20 PEARLS OF WISDOM Pioneering obstetrician and gynaecologist Wendy Savage talks to Melanie McFadyean 32 a treasUry of comfort Tim Hilton on C Lewis Hind’s anthology of second best poems 39 ED REARDON’S MONTH Berkhamsted’s grumpiest writer makes his Oldie debut

56 Birsdong Rosie Boycott sings the praises of birdwatching in Colombia 58 THE OTHER JAMES PEMBROKE

James Pembroke checks out his alter ego...

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