Adventures of Mr Benn

I succumbed to a fleeting (?) sense of vanity the other day. Browsing around Waterstones in Cambridge, I spied the latest volume of Tony Benn's diaries (More Time For Politics: 2001-2007). Having met - and interviewed - Benn in Edinburgh in 2002, I couldn't resist a quick peek to see if our brief encounter was mentioned, in passing. The answer (a quick search of the index revealed) was 'no'. But I bought it anyway.

You see, much as I abhor his politics (naive at best, downright dangerous at worst), Tony Benn struck me as one of the most charming men I have ever met - generous with his time and genuinely interested in other people. (I have interviewed quite a few famous people and this is unusual, believe me.) We enjoyed a pot of tea together and I went away favourably impressed - albeit hugely relieved that the man never got to lead his party or (horror of horrors) the country itself.