22 MAY 1971, Page 5

Black portering-

A few days ago. at Liverpool Street station I saw a black porter sweeping the platform. His sweeping was impeded by one of those railway carts which are used to trundle parcels around—ancient, enormously heavy carts, or waggons. indestructible. running on those absurd little wobbly steel wheels. Anyway, this porter shoved the cart out of his way, sending it clattering towards a line of similar carts. In front of the carts there was a pram. The cart smashed into the pram, squashing it up against the line of stationary carts. The pram was empty—was indeed brand new and was being sent somewhere. I thought to say to the porter 'You bloody fool' but then I thought better of it. Mark Bonham Carter may not have approved.