Lord Peston
Professor Leslie Wagner writes: Soon after the first Thatcher government cut universities’ budgets, Maurice received one of his regular calls from the Treasury seeking his advice (obituary, Apr 26). “How much are you prepared to pay?” Maurice asked. The Treasury mandarin was aghast and didn’t understand. “Well,” said Maurice, “my departmental budget has been cut and I’ve been told to make up the difference through consultancy and other outside income, so the meter is running!” After some initial protestations, I believe a monthly retainer was agreed.
Keith Mackrell writes: Lord Peston’s catering experience started much earlier (Lives remembered, Apr 28). In 1952, on the LSE’s student union refectory committee, he and I wrestled with the issue of the elasticity of demand for “toad in the hole”, the cheapest option on the menu at one shilling and sixpence (15p in today’s coinage). There was then no salad bar option at the student level. Rationing still operated. Maurice must have experienced the salad bar in later years in the staff dining room.
Lord Walton of Detchant
Ian Hutchinson writes: I met Lord Walton in 1991 when chiropractors were seeking statutory regulation (obituary, Apr 28). Sceptical of our profession, he visited the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic. He entered one of the lecture rooms where, by chance, a neurological examination of the cranial nerves was being taught. He was impressed and helped us thereafter — expertly piloting two bills through the House of Lords. He was a hard-working man with the desire, abilities and contacts to do good. I remember that correspondence was always answered immediately (by second class mail) and that he was very meticulous. Before sitting down at our house, he very precisely straightened the picture on the wall opposite him.
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Michael Hawkes
Ian Peacock writes:Michael had a wonderfully laconic sense of humour. I went into his office one day in December to see him at his immaculately clear desk, staring at a small piece of paper. “I’m having a terrible day,” he said. I thought that there must be some dreadful crisis, but when I asked him what was wrong he replied that he was trying to think of a joke for the office Christmas party.