FREEMAN PIERS VAUGHAN WRITES ON THE LATEST LITERARY LUNCH WITH LIVERYMAN SIMON HEFFER
20 MAY 2025
“I attended a most enjoyable Literary Lunch organized by The Stationers’ Company at Ye Olde Watling pub near Mansion House.
“The pub is constructed with old ship beams, and was built by Sir Christopher Wren to accommodate some of his workforce following the Great Fire of London. Its main claim to fame is that it was in this building that the plans for St. Paul’s Cathedral were drawn up.
“Around 43 attended an excellent lunch to celebrate the launch of Simon Heffer’s fourth book in a series on British history from Victorian times. ‘Sing As We Go’ covers the time between the two wars, and gives an insight into how the working classes, battered with unemployment and poverty, nevertheless maintained a sense of humor and optimism, due in part to the advent of radio, sport, and movies (hence the title reflecting the Gracie Fields film of the same name). The book also provides strong support for the rehabilitation of Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain, who the author argues actually sought to delay any potential invasion by Hilter for a year with his ‘Peace in our time’ visit, in order to give England time to bulk up its defenses, and especially the all-important Royal Air Force.
“A very engaging event which was followed by very thoughtful questions from the highly-engaged audience.”