2 FEBRUARY 1985, Page 5

Last Thursday witnessed a unique event in the history of

the Spectator. A reader gave a dinner in its honour, for no other reason than that he enjoyed reading it. Mr Dudley Winterbottom, the man responsible for the recovery of the Chelsea Arts Club in recent years, entertained more than 20 of the Spectator's contributors to a sumptuous meal on the Club's premises. Seventy of the Club's member came too to witness this strange spectacle. There were a grace, a poem, a menu and a curious pudding composed in the Spectator's honour. We were all bewildered and deeply moved by Mr Winterbottom's hospitality.