For Ludo and his 'crew' Christmas is a time to beat up the town. He and pals have an especial affection for some of the North Ken drinking dens where the liquor is very cheap and a blind eye is turned to their outrageous antics...
One such 'speakeasy' is run by that doyen of the community, Mr Suresh Gupta, treasurer and secretary of the Kensal Community Centre rented from us poor suckers for a peppercorn.
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| FRIEND OF COCKELL |
Anyway, it seems, according to Ludo, the cozy relationship is in tatters with all sorts of bitter recriminations and imputations that this drinking club may have got into a bit of a muddle with its accounts.
When Freemasons get nasty with each other it gets very unpleasant!
Fortunately, the Dame can attest to the fact that this mild mannered and self-styled philanthropist is no Al Capone.
What we know for certain is that Mr Gupta resigned from the KCC on 10th December and the mysterious Indian Welfare Society a few days previously.
No one is sure who benefited from the vast income of six grand a year-apart from his reputation- when he discussed it far and wide.
According to Ludo Mr Gupta plans a book with the working title, 'How to be Healthy,Rich and Famous'.
The Dame will be reviewing this Magnus Opus when it hits her Louis Quinze desk.
Indeed, should be interesting to see what transpires. I am so, so sympathetic and sorry to hear that dear Ludo's social activities have been curtailed...
ReplyDeleteLuis Quinze? I thought that in keeping with and in sympathy with our itinerant Arab community you should refer to your desk as 'Luis Chamstosh' - 15 in plain English..
Oh, do enjoy your stay in the Bay. I and my beloved will be availing ourselves of Mr O'Briens's generosity,as he most probably will have leftovers from his overpriced Xmas dinner served at the 'Belvedere'.... Happy days to all of you
Sad Badger has been imbibing. Again. She needs to desist from wasting space in the Dames organ.
DeleteShades of 'community activist' and independent councillor the late George Clark, who also was forced to resign when the Kensal Community Centre's accounts were found to be in an unexplained deficit - but that would be long before the Dame's time, in the 1980's.
ReplyDeleteSounds like there may be more to come on this troubling affair. Dear Dame, I hope Ludo is still digging, despite his clear conflict of interest?
ReplyDeleteThe Dame will not be drawn.Suffice to say that is the beginning of an intriguing case that will doubtless draw in more of the supposedly 'great and good' of our Borough.
DeleteThe Dame has been trying to reach young Feilding-Mellen
Rock is unlikely to be involved in this one. Gupta is not the kind of person who possesses the kind of kudos that Cllr Mellen craves
DeleteCracking
DeleteMost Indians I know, of breeding and education, think Gupta quite ghastly.
ReplyDeleteAnd, contrary to what the vile old bitch, The Dame says, I am not a friend of Gupta.
It was something that was drawn to the attention of the Council ages ago - at least Paget-Brown and Holgate decided to address the corruption, unlike their predecessors.
ReplyDeleteOn the contrary, it seems they held off this action for as long as possible despite countless reports of improper activity at KCA going back many years. Far too embarrassing for the Council, given the man's high level Conservative 'connections'. So whatever tipped the balance it must be pretty extreme. Will we ever find out? So handy it's come out at Christmas.
DeleteThat's the point - Hanham and Cockell wouldn't touch him - Paget-Brown has.
DeleteMany people know me as a man of high moral position. The Prince of Wales himself has asked to be a guest at one of Kensal Community evenings and I have asked him to bring dear wife. Lady Charles. I have told this man Paget-Brown that he needs to bring honesty into Council dealings. There is too much corruption and I am not happy at all. Is it coz I am Indian? Yes, maybe there is racial prejudice. I will try that one.
ReplyDeleteThere is something of the night about Mr Gupta
ReplyDeleteHanham had a soft spot for him; Cockell feared that he knows where the bodies are buried. Paget-Brown has nothing to hide.
ReplyDeleteSo Paget-Brown isn't a Mason? Whoop di doo. He has plenty of Masons working for him and he does nothing to root them out.
ReplyDeleteGupta has to clear the polluted air, Inviting the Prince of Wales does not prove innocence,add prestige or clear the air, could be eyewash..Humbug ! Gupta should open all his secret book of accounts and dealings openly, to honestly earn a true good name, which society needs. Because there are hell of a lot of rooks in stolen sheep's clothing the days.
ReplyDelete