So glad I flew Concorde...

I'll never understand why we let Concorde go into enforced retirement. She was a wonderful beast, and I was always very proud to see her. Even more brilliant - I flew her several times. The first time was a special VIP "excursion" taking a load of TV people, celebrities and rich punters up to Liverpool for the Grand National.



I remember, I travelled alongside Russell Grant, who, for some odd reason was dressed as a Greek God. I have a very embarrassing photograph of us both which I, luckily, cannot find.

But the really great times were when I was filming in New York, and I was needed back home (at TVam in London) fast, and my boss would tell me "just get the Concorde". The flight was 3 hours and ten minutes, exactly the same length as Good Morning Britain in those days! I'd leave New York at lunchtime and arrive at Heathrow at about 11pm, scramble back to my flat for about 2 hours sleep and then be up for the alarm at 2.58am and off to the studio for 3.30am! Great days!

The first day you ever walk into the Concorde lounge at JFK airport in New York, and your luggage slips away silently from your grasp, to be replaced by a petit four and a glass of champers, that's when you feel you might just have made it. You look at your fellow passengers and think: they must all be millionaires!

The cabin itself is surprisingly small, long and thin. And the seats, small but comfortable in exquisite grey leather. All one class, of course. Concorde class. And in front of you, a little display that tells you when you are flying at Mach 1 (that's when the first, on-flight, glass of champagne comes round) and then Mach 2. What's more - you even get a special souvenir. I got a silver photo frame, with "Concorde" inscribed on it, and two silver decanter labels! They remind me of times gone by. I cannot believe Concorde is in our past - like the Moon landings. I was talking about Concorde on the show today, because two local writers have produced "The Concorde Owners' Workshop Manual" - just in case you fancy owning a supersonic airplane. I wish!

So sad to hear today of the death of a very lovely lady, Edna Healey, wife of political grandee (and Lord) Denis Healey.

Denis and I had a famous spat on TV back in the 80s, when I questioned him about Edna having private surgery just when Denis was so critical of Margaret Thatcher having a private operation. He didn't speak to me for several years but I'm glad to say we made up and have remained friendly. Here is Edna in the picture, back in Denis' hey-day, when he was Chancellor, on Budget Day in 1978. I often met Edna, and interviewed her from time to time, including a smashing day spent at their home in Sussex. She was 92. So a great life, well-lived.