21 SEPTEMBER 1956, page 20

Conversation Piece

Now as I said to 'Dickie' Mountbatten, When Noel (or Willie) was there, And the talk, of an intimate pattern, Was racy, allusive and rare— Well, perhaps it'd sound a bit silly......

Happy Birthday ?

PROVINCIAL newspapers used to have a con- vention whereby variety shows at the local theatre were not covered by a critic. The tickets would be given to some old reporter, who......