Loose Canon

It could not have been better stage-managed. Brian Brindley died over dinner at The Atheneum Club in London having consumed stuffed crab, and as boeuf en croute was being prepared in the kitchen. Surrounded by his acolytes, he would certainly agree with Sydney Smith that heaven was foie gras and trumpets but his heaven started on earth. There was much sadness in Brian Brindley`s life. Emerging from Oxford he eventually took up an appointment as a Vicar in Reading having...
More Description

It could not have been better stage-managed. Brian Brindley died over dinner at The Atheneum Club in London having consumed stuffed crab, and as boeuf en croute was being prepared in the kitchen. Surrounded by his acolytes, he would certainly agree with Sydney Smith that heaven was foie gras and trumpets but his heaven started on earth.

There was much sadness in Brian Brindley`s life. Emerging from Oxford he eventually took up an appointment as a Vicar in Reading having fought vigorously against the ordination of women and other manifestations of modernity. But then he was tricked by a tabloid journalist into talking about his sexual life and fantasies and the interview was published in a newspaper.

The result was devastating and Brindley resigned. He retired and was received into the Roman Catholic Church. But in the process he became a hero to countless thousands of people who love the Old Order. Alan Bennett, leader of the fan club, has written a brilliant opening chapter in which he describes Brindley's magic but also his deep charity and pastoral care. Others follow including A.N. Wilson and Telegraph correspondent Damian Thompson.