The long lost blues collection

Michael White’s tribute at St Mary’s Twickenham to his friend and Guardian colleague, the late parliamentary sketch writer Simon Hoggart, inspired much mirth. Among the letters of condolence Hoggart’s wife Alyson had received, White reported, came one from a total stranger who had restrained himself until the second paragraph before mentioning that his brother had been at Cambridge with Simon, and had once lent him his collection of blues records, which had never been returned.

“So if, by any chance …” the rest being drowned in laughter.