What an extraordinary generation they were in so many ways.

Thanks for sharing your moving story.

Spencer Gore later took Gilman’s house and the Museum has three of his Letchworth paintings. They evoke the same peaceful rural life that inspired Ratcliffe, a world away for the gritty urban scenes which were the usual subject of the Camden Towners. Do go if you can: well worth the trip!

The drone-dominated, cyber-riddled Ukrainian front line is the future of warfare. Any new equipment which doesn’t take account of this will be obsolete before it comes off the production line. We have much need of Ukraine’s experience of fighting Russia to keep Britain safe in this new world. End

I also underlined the need to emphasise constantly that supporting Ukraine is in UK’s interest. They are world leaders in drone technology/tactics and in countering Russian cyber and subversion It’s good news that the UK defence industry is now getting their battlefield data 5/6

Using frozen Russian assets to raise a £140bn loan for Ukraine is urgent. Assets in UK will be part of this. This needs to include the £2.5bn from Abramovitch’s 2022 sale of Chelsea FC which is still blocked in a UK bank account. As winter comes on, Ukraine needs this money. 4/6

The @FT investigation here into sanctions evasion by Indian companies shows the problem. There is much more to be done to starve Russia of oil and gas revenues and deter Chinese traders and refineries in taking Russian oil. Could we do more to isolate the Central Bank? on.ft.com/4oLDiKY 3/6

Much has been done on weapons supply and sanctions. But it hasn’t been enough. We need to be bolder, eg by supplying more long range missiles incl Tomahawks, and faster in negotiating access for UK defence industry to the EU’s SAFE programme. Oil sanctions are not being implemented effectively 2/6

Thanks Tim I agree entirely! The weight of evidence was surely there to make it worth putting the case to a jury. I do not see what more the CPS thought Matt Collins could say.

The CPS felt this was strong enough to prosecute in April 2024. Why did they come back to Collins twice in 2025, putting him in the difficult position of trying to interpret retrospectively the previous Govt’s policy? I see no sign of any effort here to soften the description of the China threat.

Good for you. I look forward - with trepidation - to reading what you make of us. (Given what is happening across the channel, shouldn’t it be Another Contrary Country?)