Full Rear Assault

White House Hotel
London

I was pleasantly engaged in a chat with three on my fellow travelers on my journey and all of a sudden, from behind a full rear assault by a woman of a certain age and a somewhat familiar face. She stormed me from behind so I didn’t see it coming whatsoever. She forced her hand in mine and said, “Hello, I'm Mary Soames…”

Well, it all took me by such great surprise, and I'm used to calling people by their first names, I replied, “Hi Mary, its very nice to meet you.” Just in that instant, I processed the last of what she had just said and asked myself, “Did she just say Soames?” Indeed she had and I had just called Winston and Clementine’s daughter, and patron of The Churchill Centre, Lady Mary Soames by her first name.

It wasn’t so much of a major diplomatic incident, as it was a rather minor social blunder, but she seemed to take it all in good style and grace and without the blink of an eye, on she went introducing herself to the rest of the group. She has a personality that’s instantly likable; engaging and very agreeable in manner. A very lovely woman indeed.