Good afternoon.
We have nothing but deep sympathy for the family of Sally Ann Bowman. You will probably remember the name. You will certainly remember the photos. Blond, elegant and beautiful, she was on the threshold of a modelling/singing career which would have made her proud parents even prouder. Someone brutally burst that bubble of hopeful expectation in a hideous and callous fashion, the detail of which a jury had to sit through today. Mum said she couldn't. We report on the opening day of the case against the man police believe cut short a lovely young life.
The man's guilt or innocence will, rightly, be determined by a jury. His lawyers will do their best to defend him, rightly so.
It is to be hoped there was no eavesdropping on the private conversations between the man and his lawyers because, in any system, that would be as wrong as listening to a private conversation between an MP and his constituent. Or a parole lawyer representing a man convicted, 40 years ago of killing 3 cops. Emma will explain why all of us should be angry and cautious: it seems there are more active bugs in the hands of police and security forces in London today than bugs on a blossoming rose bush. May the "buggers" wilt with shame.
Bob Crow feels no shame in calling for strikes to stop the entire Underground: there are 9 issues, Robin will explain, which Bob wants settled and he tells her that he believes after the Mayoral elections this May, his members will be left to go to hell in a hand-cart. It might be quicker than the Northern Line, come March!
The Australians have marched all over the sensitivities of the good people of Staines. "Sod Staines" they scream in a tasteless advertising campaign claiming the glories of Adelaide. Adelaide? An unattractive daughter of Queen Victoria? A city full of Australians? My point, I think. And what has Staines ever done to offend anyone? Ali G? David Brent? These are gifts from God to a grateful nation, nay grateful world. Adelaide vs Staines? Liz is our referee and, given her daughter lives down under, she will be fair. Too fair, I fear.
Films should be fairer to the environment according to Ken Livingstone, Emma Thompson and Alistair McGowan. Not sure I hear Hollywood squealing, but Jasmine may have heard more...
You'll have heard of W.C.Fields, a great American comedian. He had, on his gravestone, these telling words: "Frankly, I'd rather be in Philadelphia". Today many of our American cousins, from the fat cat bankers in Canary Wharf, to the back-to-front baseball hat brigade of LSE and UCL, might well echo his words, if they are 18 or over. It is Super Tuesday, the day when America takes a giant step toward deciding who they want to contest the US Election in November. And there are so many Americans Abroad that they are known as the 51st State, producing 22 delegates, or about 1% of the total needed to win the nomination.
So, it really matters, and Ben will capture the excitement. But, I hope, neither eat too many hotdogs nor down too many Buds. He has also met up with the man who must be regretting busting up with his wife more than most at the moment: she is Barak Obama's sister and he is now her ex-husband. Big mistake; as Julia Roberts said in Pretty Woman. But he is funny and interesting. A super Super Tuesday report from Mr Scotchbrook.
Indeed, a super programme from all of us for all of you.
What more could you want bar Chrissie and the papers? I'll throw them in too, at no extra cost.
See you at 6
Alastair and Katie.
