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Issue No 87 Autumn 2022

Paul Laxton
NEW MONARCH OF THE GLEN, NEW TENANT AT NUMBER 10

I was born in December 1952, just ten months after the late Queen ascended the throne. Therefore, like the vast majority of citizens, I had never known any other monarch. Back in 1952 very few had people had the televisions, washing machines and motor cars that we take for granted.

Space travel had yet to begin, and an early computer would have been transported on the back of a wagon, rather than in the owner's jacket pocket. Poor people were thin rather than fat, and formality and deference ruled in the workplace. The one constant in seventy years of unimaginable change was the Queen herself. Despite the best efforts of her children and their spouses, the good ship Elizabeth, much to the irritation of Republicans, always somehow managed to survive the tempest and return home safely to port. Her death will undoubtedly revive the debate about hereditary rule, even without missteps from the new king. However, Republicans cannot rely solely for argument on what to them is the absurdity of a hereditary monarchy with all the privileges that go with it, if the elected alternative results in President Blair or God forbid, President Bercow.

The Queen's first Prime Minister was born in 1874, her last in 1975. Whereas the court of public opinion will decide the fate of the monarchy, the Parliamentary Conservative Party has decided the fate of her last Prime Minister, Liz Truss, in very short order, forcing her resignation in just 45 days. I'd long grown used to currency speculators undermining Labour governments, so I never thought I'd see the day that a Labour opposition cheered on the money markets in an assault on government policy. 

Ian Mikardo, a prominent Labour left winger in the 1950's and 1960's, went so far as to describe the stock exchange as 'one big betting shop.’ Have you noticed how the BBC is referring to currency speculators as ‘investors?’
Disgraceful. Despite the taxes paid by the City, it is not hard to see Mikardo’s point. 'Trussonomics' more resembled the policy pursued by Ronald Reagan than Margaret Thatcher, with one key difference.
U.S. borrowing had the safety net of the Dollar being the world's reserve currency, the Pound does not. We can be sure that her successor, Rishi Sunak, will be rather more cautious.

This is a bumper edition of the newsletter, enlivened as it is always is by the regular contributors. As well as his ever popular 'Your Letters' feature, Bob Duncan also gives us the fourth extract from his memoirs, recalling his earliest days in the service as a young A.G. On the subject of memoirs, Barbara Treen is the latest retired Governor to go into print. Her memoirs are reviewed in this issue, and I commend them to the members. Peter Atkinson is back, reflecting on some key moments for him during his time in harness, and in particular, on 'Fresh Start.' Sadly this issue also carries two obituaries,
Mel Dickinson and John Prince. I can also report the death of Audrey Davies, widow of the late Frank Davies. Our condolences go out to their families

Finally I draw your attention to a piece from Brendan O'Friel. Brendan and his wife Barbara are hosting a Ukrainian family, and this first part entitled 'From Kyiv to St. Mary' chronicles the hugely challenging journey of the refugee family from a war zone to the safety of the Isle of Man. It is intensely moving.

PAUL LAXTON, EDITOR