We have lift-off . . .
TRIUMPH FOR the intrepid birdman of London City Airport. William Charnock and I met at the Savoy on Monday morn- ing, to test his claim that his airport could be reached from the West End in 20 min- utes. It was the first day of the ring of steel (well, bollards, really) round the City, and I thought that this was guaranteed to jam the traffic for miles. Instead it frightened every- one off. At the Savoy's river entrance we found a taxi in suspicious readiness, and raced down empty roads, passing the Tower in six minutes and reaching the airport in 18 . Hats off to Mr Charnock and his air- port, which has many of the best qualities of Marylebone station. I have settled our bet, paying £20 (£10 a minute) to the Macmillan Cancer Relief Fund, but I missed my stipulated glass of champagne. The Savoy bar was shut, and the airport bar had been drunk dry the night before.
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