19 NOVEMBER 1994, Page 42

. . . Mus Cat

OUTGOING Lord Mayors must avoid the limelight, but Sir Paul Newall turned out to be a star, and I hope that some more worth- while part will now be found him than a place in the chorus line of aldermen. Word of his last mayoral progress reaches me from Muscat. This Arabian seaport city was suffer- ing from a plague of rats. They came swarm- ing ashore from the ships, so Muscat's gover- nor complained, and no one could control them. The heir of Dick Whittington could reassure him: 'We have experience of these things.' Another fine old tradition vindicated, and a retirement job lined up for Lord Mayor Newall's supportive cat, Iggles.