Sir Fred Goodwin: A Smart PR Move to Outwit the Paps?

March 23, 2009

fred-the-shred.jpg

Sir Fred Goodwin may not win many votes in a popularity poll, but he is beloved of one group of people. Step forward those lovable lads (for they are always lads) on their Vespas, the paparazzi. As the Guardian has it here, Posh and Becks are so yesterday as paps all over Britain try to snap the elusive Sir Fred.

London Evening Standard’s picture editor, Dave Ofield, told the Guardian that the first picture of Fred the Shred enjoying himself would earn about £30,000. “He’s currently worth more than Britney, maybe hovering around the Brad and Angelina with kids price,” said Ofield.

What’s a disgraced banker to do, in such circumstances? Perhaps he could use some of his £16.9m pension pot to pay for a tasteful portrait shot, one which highlights his best features, which he then releases to all media? “It’s an option, certainly,” said one leading PR expert, “but then again, maybe he should just agree to pay back some of the pension and be done with it.”

Image courtesy of Flickr user takomabibelot. 

 

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Supreme Court on Twitter

February 6, 2012

Something remarkable happened today. Yes, the Supreme Court launched its Twitter feed. It even has a Twitter policy, one of caveats, disclaimers and little by way of illumination but regardless: who would have thought that the successor body to the House of Lords would stoop to engage with the world of tweets, hashtags and retweets?

We look forward to the day when court business will be conducted via Twitter. Meantime, check out this link for an excellent blog on the Supreme Court.

Not so right said Fred

February 2, 2012
fred hat

So Farewell, then, Sir Fred Goodwin.

Now you are just Fred.

Not Right Said Fred, but plain Fred.

The Forfeiture Committee did for you.

No one had heard of it before,

But Dave said it had to act, and it did.

Trouble is that no one knows what to think.

Is it ‘Alas, poor Fred‘,

Or ‘Hurray! Sir Fred is dead!’?

We don’t know.

Do you?

By A. Mob, aged 1,378 and a half.

London Goes AWOL

January 31, 2012
CNN

STOP PRESS:

Fed up with being stuck on the Thames in south-east England, London yesterday decided to move. In a dramatic gesture which augurs ill for the Olympics, the city upped sticks and relocated to East Anglia.

Lawyers were not consulted about the move, and the city’s precise motivation remains unclear. However, financiers fear that London’s decision is a sign that it wishes to downsize. Moreover, a source from London said: “We no longer want to be Britain’s seat of power. If the Scots can deregulate, why can’t we? East Anglia is a nice place where nothing happens. It’s time for a quiet life. Please respect our right to privacy.”

Elsewhere, Birmingham did not do anything, but Manchester was seen to be packing its bags. “There’s an opportunity for us,” said Manchester. “We can become London.”

East Anglia said: “We don’t mind. It’ll be refreshing to be associated with something other than fens and flatness.”

A cartologist at CNN, which broke the extraordinary news, was later fired.