After a rather wonderful elevenses at the College of Arms, exploring the designs and sketches for the coat of arms drawn up for such vaguely familiar characters from history such as Cardinal Wolsey, Paul MaCartney and Kate Middleton..... Under the expert guidance of Sir Henry Paston Bedingfeld, Norry and Ulster King of Arms, I felt the presence of history. It also has a touch of Kind Hearts and Coronets about it.
Sir Henry runs the very impressive College with great aplomb and style. It has been on the same site since before the fire of London. You almost expect to find Samuel Pepys scribbling in his diary in one of the wooden panelled rooms. Sir Henry's family home in Suffolk was built by one of the Bedingfeld family in 1482, and he still lives there....put another way, the family have been there since about 10 years before Christopher Columbus discovered America. That causes some astonishment whenever it is mentioned and especially when I take in my friends from the States.
A pleasant walk along Sir Peter Bazalgette's splendidly engineered embankment took me to the Savoy and the reviving services of Erik Lorincz in the American bar. Cocktails are always best around 5pm. My drinking partner on this occasion was the witty and thoughtful Richard Godwin with whom I sampled the new bar B.Y.O.C a couple of weeks ago.
There are few things more fun, reassuring or revitalising than world class cocktails in the company of a good friend. That said, whilst I love a cocktail, I don't much like a cocktail party..."Cocktail parties are the memorial services of the geriatric set' said Harold MacMillan; here is Richard's account of the drinks in the Evening Standard :
http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/foodanddrink/the-spirits-heres-to-the-bartender-8514281.html
When it comes to most things, he puts it all far better than I ever could.
Sir Henry runs the very impressive College with great aplomb and style. It has been on the same site since before the fire of London. You almost expect to find Samuel Pepys scribbling in his diary in one of the wooden panelled rooms. Sir Henry's family home in Suffolk was built by one of the Bedingfeld family in 1482, and he still lives there....put another way, the family have been there since about 10 years before Christopher Columbus discovered America. That causes some astonishment whenever it is mentioned and especially when I take in my friends from the States.
A pleasant walk along Sir Peter Bazalgette's splendidly engineered embankment took me to the Savoy and the reviving services of Erik Lorincz in the American bar. Cocktails are always best around 5pm. My drinking partner on this occasion was the witty and thoughtful Richard Godwin with whom I sampled the new bar B.Y.O.C a couple of weeks ago.
There are few things more fun, reassuring or revitalising than world class cocktails in the company of a good friend. That said, whilst I love a cocktail, I don't much like a cocktail party..."Cocktail parties are the memorial services of the geriatric set' said Harold MacMillan; here is Richard's account of the drinks in the Evening Standard :
http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/foodanddrink/the-spirits-heres-to-the-bartender-8514281.html
When it comes to most things, he puts it all far better than I ever could.