18 Comments

I’ve been in the Torygraph twice. Once for Matches and once for Hatches. I very much doubt I’ll be in there for Despatches. I wasn’t particularly happy about the first two to be honest. But- it was the done thing, apparently. All about being proper. It was all wind and piss as far as I’m concerned. I’m sure that that is why this 1970’s criminal has his obituary printed. Because it’s the done thing in those circles. So, whilst it’s quite amusing to read how they try and flower up a sows ass I also think it’s a bit naff and a bit of a kick in the teeth to the people he’s shafted. Why not just put in the paper “Joe Bloggs, Date-date few details of what’s happening blah blah” leave it at that. People know he’s expired. Can get in contact if they so wish. It’s naff. Poor taste and a sign of a class no one really understands or cares about anymore. I think. 🤷🏽‍♂️🧐🤔

Expand full comment
May 31, 2022Liked by Guy Walters

Should everything printed in the Thunderer be of great weight or is there room for tittle tattle and entertainment? Supposing not, then I think the second paragraph is more the juice -- "of no historical or social consequence" by far outweighs his morality for me. I love a good obituary of a bad person -- what better glue to stick one to the moral rails than the knowledge it will be published warts and all. Flawed humans (the only kind) are tremendously interesting.

So if that is the yardstick, can we tell what will have lasting impact and what will not? Is the chipping away at the edifice of the aristocracy really without historical or social impact? If the newspapers are to be restricted to merely being the first draft of history, then we do need to be careful of what goes in them, or more careful about what does not go in them? Ink is cheap. Publish and be damned (or at least filtered out by the next round of historians). Tomorrow someone more interesting may die.

Expand full comment
author

Will respond later!

Expand full comment

Yeah my hot take definitely needs a thoughtful reply. Write it on the back of a drinks mat and slide it across the table at Dukes. ;-)

Expand full comment
May 31, 2022Liked by Guy Walters

I'm just composing a blog about why you've written an article about an obituary about him.......

Expand full comment

PS the rogues make the best obituaries? Noone wants to read an obituary about someone who followed all the rules their whole life. There's too many of us doing that already.

Expand full comment
May 31, 2022Liked by Guy Walters

Perhaps it’s just yet another attempt to swindle and put creditors off? Maybe he’s not dead after all!

Expand full comment
May 31, 2022Liked by Guy Walters

If a criminal genuinely games the system and wins, as much as I don't like it, I can respect their sheer ambition and skill. However, I do agree that seemingly including a criminal just because they came from 'good stock' is quite poor especially as there are more interesting swindlers out there. They should be remembered, usually as a warning against their immoral acts, but not out of status. Oh well, at least he wore a Cravat

Expand full comment

Well said. Most readers agree with you in the comments.

Expand full comment
May 31, 2022Liked by Guy Walters

No idea who this person was, but I can't but help feel that there must have been someone else that The Times could have done an obituary about. Plenty of more interesting people in the world who achieve more in life who still are not completely law abiding.

Expand full comment
May 31, 2022Liked by Guy Walters

Well said. I couldn’t fathom the obsession with the Krays and their criminal gang. Mind you I find the huge interest in ‘true crime’ stories bewildering.

Expand full comment
founding
May 31, 2022Liked by Guy Walters

A robber, a thief is the same wherever they come from and the biggest one today resides in the Kremlin. The black sheep in a family always attracts attention. Class, wealth always noticed in the UK and its Press can't have enough to push sales for their papers every day or in celeb magazines. One cousin researching family history with me commented, "Your family is so interesting, had such interesting lives whilst mine were born, married, had children, boring jobs and died." But I always reply that everyone's life has interest. You need to ask, to delve with careful questions into as much as you can and in many cases find undiscovered fascinating lives behind some quiet faces. And there are so many uncounted thousands of people who go about their lives doing good for others and unsung. Quiet angels in our midst. "Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.' Marcel Proust

Expand full comment

People dismiss those who "just had a normal life" as if it were the path of least resistance or shows lack of imagination. Having a normal life takes more skill and luck in navigating life's curve balls and moral dilemmas than is commonly believed.

Expand full comment
founding

Is there such an existence as "a normal life"?

Expand full comment

Yours and mine I suspect

Expand full comment

Love the Proust quote: I'll borrow that if I may!

Expand full comment
founding

Please do!

Expand full comment
May 31, 2022Liked by Guy Walters

No, it didn't. An excellent piece Guy. Thank you.

Expand full comment