Blog
Why do airlines oversell seats?
Hot on the heels of James Dawson's legal victory in the Court of Appeal, upholding his compensation from Thomson Airlines following a six hour delayed departure for his flight from Gatwick to the Dominican Republic, six years after the flight, I would like to suggest...
Scott Polar Research Institute commemorates Sir Edgar Speyer – 100 years on
I am so delighted for Prof Tony Lentin that he has succeeded in gaining recognition for Sir Edgar Speyer for bankrolling Scott's expeditions to the Antartic. Now, 100 years on, a plaque is to be dedicated in his memory at Cambridge's Scott Polar Research Institute....
My weekend bootcamp at Champneys
I did say to myself, 'never again!'after a gruelling week long bootcamp at Champneys two years ago. Don't get me wrong, it hit the right spots, though the highlight of my day was my long awaited beauty therapy, and I came away with some life changing dietary habits....
The luck of Lord Archer
I had no idea when I saw Lord Archer speak in Cambridge last Friday that he had recently been operated on for prostate cancer. He was his usual exuberant and confident self, repeatedly saying how thankful he was for his luck which led to his phenomenally successful...
Introducing The Shop Girls
I am counting the weeks now till the publication on 25 September of my book, The Shop Girls. It is a heartfelt and dramatic collection of memoirs of young women who worked in an upmarket Cambridge ladies department store during the 1940s-60s called Heyworth's which...
Why we urgently need new liver disease biomarkers
Liver disease rarely makes the headlines, yet it is one of the leading causes of human mortality, resulting in almost 2 million deaths per year globally – many of which could be prevented by early detection. There are over 100 types of liver disease, which together...
A relaxing Ragdale Hall break
"Can I stay an extra night?" Nancy pleaded with the receptionist at the end of her short break at Ragdale Hall spa. Nancy has been a regular visitor there for 25 years, but with all the best will in the world, her wish could not be met as the spa was full! I was...
Clones, Darwin’s granddaughter and a popular politician
Reading about Britain's first cloned dog today reminded me of what the celebrated literary critic, Prof John Carey, said at the splendid Cambridge Literary Festival last weekend where he was giving his new book, The Unexpected Professor, a plug. He was asked to name...
The Sunday Times Cancer Campaign
I count myself lucky to live near Cambridge. If I ever need treatment for cancer, I feel confident that I would be given the best care by oncologists at Addenbrooke's Hospital. I certainly wouldn't want to go to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn which is on...