London Dinner with Martin Sixsmith

A trip to London last week for the London and South East Old Mancs' Dinner.  Apart from the remarkably good meal served at the O & C Club, the evening was distinguished by an address by the multi-talented Martin Sixsmith.  A former pupil and great friend of the late Ian Leverton, Martin was one of a group of able Russianists who dipped their toes into journalism with The Mancunian newspaper while still at school.  For many years the BBC's man in Moscow, he is now presenting a 50-part history of Russia each afternoon on Radio 4, and the sizeable book of the series will be published later this month.  Good for Radio 4 for not dumbing down in this area.

You may remember that Martin had an interesting spell as Stephen Byers' Director of Communications at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. He left with a generous severance settlement after Byers misled Parliament with a statement which ultimately ended his political career.

For lovers of satire, and political satire in particular, it was great to hear how Martin's experiences with the new Labour government were transformed into The Thick of It and In The Loop by his collaboration with Armando Ianucci.  Oddly enough, there was another MGS link - the character of Ollie was played by OM Chris Addison.