Memoirs

Former editor of The Times, the late William Rees-Mogg was a pivotal figure of post-war Britain. Here he recounts the remarkable story of his life.

As editor of The Times (his glory years), journalist, commentator, Chairman of the Arts Council, and, later, Chairman of the Broadcasting Standards Council (when he was accused of censorship), the William Rees-Mogg spent his life at the centre of events in politics and journalism.

Often controversial, his strong, fiercely defended opinions went to the heart of the problems of the day. From his famous defence of Mick Jagger on a charge of possessing cannabis, to his recent criticism of the morality behind the war in Kosovo and defence of monetarism, his writing demanded attention, to the point of becoming newsworthy in itself.

He knew the people who shaped our time, from royalty to presidents, business magnates and religious leaders, and his unique insider perspective is here used to great effect, with perceptive, provocative recollections of people such as Rab Butler, Margaret Thatcher, Anthony Eden, Shirley Williams, Roy Jenkins, Robin Day, Rupert Murdoch and many more.

From an early age his life was filled with incident – among the many anecdotes are the stories of the Bristol Blitz; his doomed attempts to enter politics; writing speeches for Anthony Eden during Suez; hiring burglars to uncover corruption in the Met; an eventful stay at Chequers with Harold Wilson; how Rupert Murdoch amused the Queen at lunch; and how Harold Macmillan impressed Ronald Reagan at dinner.

His colourful and illuminating memoirs offer a wonderfully readable life of one of the great characters of the age.

Educated at Charterhouse and Balliol College, Oxford, he joined the Financial Times in 1952, becoming chief leader writer and assistant editor. He then moved to The Times, eventually becoming its editor, and remaining there for fourteen years. An accepted figure of the establishment, he has been vice-chairman of the BBC, chairman of the Arts Council and head of the Broadcasting Standards Council and sits on the boards of several companies.