Page "Bernard Fitzalan-Howard, 16th Duke of Norfolk" Paragraph 9

It was the first time that most of us had met the portly, florid aristocrat ... we hardly knew what to expect: he hadn't exactly sprung to mind as a front-running candidate for the job.

It was a black-tie affair, of course, and none of use dared get drunk.

Eventually, over the port, the Duke rose, cleared his throat and delivered himself of a sentence I shall treasure till the end of my days: " Gentlemen ", he said, " I wish this to be an entirely informal tour.

You will merely address me as ' Sir '".

The grand old duke is dead now, alas, but he loved that tour of Australia more than any other official duty he had ever undertaken in his auspicious public life ... I could write a whole volume on the Duke Down Under.