The boy behind the man
James Forsyth 5:57pmThis piece in the Telegraph about Brown’s upbringing is well worth reading. It gives you an idea of how precocious Brown was and how early he developed his sense of social mission. But there’s also an early foretaste of his puritanism: “In April 1962, aged 11, he wrote an article about a church campaign in favour of television commercials against the twin demons of alcohol and tobacco. Gordon concluded his piece with a typically opinionated flourish: "Let us hope that this plan will be a success and that the sale of drink and cigarettes to the younger and older generation will fall when these [commercials] against drink and cigarettes are shown."
Previous
Harry
June 10th, 2007 6:52pm Report this commentBrown sounds like one of the little twerps who used to be on 'Top of the Form' when I was a boy.
adrian salter
June 19th, 2007 2:58pm Report this commentAnd when is this supercilious killjoy going to receive the ridicule he deserves for his professed "moral compass"? Who on earth does not have one? Even the immoral or amoral have a moral compass, by definition, however narrow it may be. This is not to suggest that Mr. B is either: just insufferably smug and condescending. This silly phrase needs to be vigorously lampooned - soon, please, editor - and perhaps compared with his predecessor's self-description as a "pretty regular kinda guy". That has kinda rebounded, hasn't it, though unhappily 10 years too late. Adrian S
Back to top