The actor Nigel Hawthorne — who most famously played the duplicitous civil servant1 Sir Humphrey in the 1980s British sitcom Yes Minister — used to tell a story about being invited to lunch with the Queen at Buckingham Palace, along with a score2 or so of fellow thespians3. When the company was seated, each guest was presented with a small round plate upon which rested an unpeeled peach4 , along with a too-dainty5 knife and fork. All gazed6 in more or less consternation at this challenge to their dexterity7; no doubt the more literary-minded8 put to themselves J. Alfred Prufrock’s anguished question, “Do I dare to eat a peach?”
All set to work on the fruit, peeling, slicing9, forking, as best they could. In the midst of his efforts, Nigel…
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Speak Up (Digital) - 1 Issue, No 471