Mr Kenneth Baker

Some years ago my wife & I ventured out for an evening drink. We had no particular pub in mind and were disappointed by the reception & atmosphere at the first pub we visited. Unusually we then went to The White Harte Hotel in Lewes about 9 miles from home. There was immediately a lovely lively atmosphere. A visiting group of perhaps 20 German speaking people in their late forties/early fifties were in jolly mood and obviously enjoying themselves. I began talking to some of the group and they were happy to explain that they were Swiss-German and all school head teachers. They were here on a fact finding mission to investigate The National Curriculum. Apparently in their part of Switzerland each school was free to devise its own curriculum. I said, "It was Margaret Thatcher's education minister Kenneth Baker who introduced our National Curriculum. At this precise moment, right on cue, Mr Kenneth Baker walked into the bar! I called him over in some excitement and invited the Swiss heads to talk to him. I had no idea that Mr Baker had friends in the area. He was very gracious and spent some time with the Swiss delegates. I have his autograph still as a memento. The timing of his entry was astounding.