Gyles Brandreth

It was always a joy to go and work with him.

So...

Isn't that nice?

I mean, I don't want to cry, but isn't it nice to be able to say someone was always a joy to work with?

I can't remember.

We worked together for years.

I cannot remember a bad day of going to work with this man.

So that's the first.

Then, and I did tell you about this when it happened, my friend Jeremy Hanley died.

Sir Jeremy Hanley, KCMG, formerly a Conservative Member of Parliament, Foreign Office Minister.

In fact, I think for a while he was Chairman of the Conservative Party.

But he was a very middle-of-the-road man.

He was just a decent individual, a lovely man.

And he, again, he just made you laugh.

He was a very witty speaker.

Famously, he was at a dinner with Margaret Thatcher.

after a general election at which he got back a very small majority, but he got 20,067 votes.

20,067 votes and he won the seat.

And at this speech when Margaret Thatcher was there, he said, I must thank you, Margaret, Prime Minister, I must thank you because you came to support me and you secured me that 67 extra votes that won me the seat

Margaret Thatcher, thank you.