Poetic valediction

It is with great sadness that we heard of the sudden death of Michael Vestey on Friday. For more than ten years, he had been The Spectator’s radio critic — indeed the first and only one. His column was perceptive, authoritative, witty, sometimes caustic and opinionated, but always immensely readable. We asked him to file his column early this week because of the Bank Holiday and, professional to the last, he did. It follows below. Michael will be much missed.

I’m glad Radio Four had the good sense to mark the centenary of the birth of John Betjeman as I feared the BBC might overlook it. But the network did and some fine programmes have resulted. The one I liked most was Doubts and Demons: The Inner John Betjeman (Monday), presented by A.N. Wilson, whose new biography of the poet has just been published. I also enjoyed Miles Kington’s Archive Hour: Betjeman the Broadcaster (Monday), with examples from his prolific broadcasting years.

Wilson talked to all the relevant people, except Lady Elizabeth Cavendish, daughter of a Duke of Devonshire, who was for many years his mistress (I suppose you could say) while he was married to Penelope Chetwode, daughter of a former field marshal. I would have liked to have heard from her as Betjeman was a man of so many contradictions, insecurities and self-doubt that I dare say she knew him better than anyone still alive. There were some amusing anecdotes. Betjeman’s daughter Candida Lycett Green told the story of how Penelope persuaded him to have riding lessons near his home at Uffington near Oxford and would make sure that he rode off with the riding instructor. As soon as he was out of sight, Betjeman and his tutor, a Joy Bassett, would dismount and read poetry to each other.