[Jerome Betts]

A front-runner, Martin, I would say. However, Burns was a Lowlander and Highland dress was illegal until the last 14 years of his life so I would doubt that he was a sporraner, even if a sort of retrospective foreigner if Salmond gets his way. He did wear a plaid as a cloak. Wonder if he had haggis-sized pockets in his coat?

As for Brian and Sue, I think we should be told.

[John Whitworth]

If you didn't know you were in it, Brian, you can screw some money out of Penguin Books, always a delightful prospect.

I see Bill and Bazza are there majorly.

[Martin Parker]

John,
A plague upon your inconveniently detailed knowledge of things Scottish!
The piece has not yet been sent in to Lucy, so the problem may yet be solvable. But, a pox on't!

I wonder if Bazza knows that eight limericks appear under his name in the same Penguin volume as Brian. Plus, Bill Greenwell has almost more than I can count. (Have scoured its pages for even one Whitworth - but to no avail. Sorry.)

The book was compiled by the one and only E O Parrott. In all there are eight hundred limericks-- some from the most unexpected people including Bertrand Russell, C E M Joad, Francis Parkinson Keyes, Bernard Levin, Galsworthy, Terence Rattigan ...... and a Cosmo Monkhouse (who he?)

[basil ransome-davies]

I can see the Penguin Book of Limericks from where I sit. That obnoxious prick Alan Rubbisher reprinted one without seeking permission – a clue to the Guardian's real values – & I made him pay for theft of intellectual property. And I'd already been paid – Eric got us quite good terms – so I'm sure Brian must have been.

[Brian Allgar]

Bazza, unless I'm suffering from a total memory blackout, this is the first I've ever heard of it.

[Martin Parker]

Brian,
I have emailed you a copy of the item in question.
Perhaps the Cosmo Monkhouse referred to in my last post is one of your aliases. In which case, more money to be made.

[basil ransome-davies]

Originally Posted by Brian Allgar

Bazza, unless I'm suffering from a total memory blackout, this is the first I've ever heard of it.

Mysterioso.

[John Whitworth]

I don't think, Martin, that I had ever penned a limerick in those departed days. I was far too serious minded. I used to translate dirty Greek epigrams in a high-minded way.

Good for you, Bazza. Money is always to be made out of overweening editors and publishers. Both Hodder and Secker have in their time fallen to my bow and spear. They become prey because they are lazy and stupid. Rubbisher fits the bill.

[Orwn Acra]

I must get this limerick book.

I once alerted George Simmers that one of his Speccie offerings made its way into the revised Annotated Alice. Now there's a placement!

And did you know, John, that you have a small cameo in T. S. Eliot's Inventions of the March Hare? You are mentioned in regards to the Bolo verses and your Faber Book of Blue Verse.

[Brian Allgar]

Originally Posted by Orwn Acra

I must get this limerick book.

I've just ordered it from Amazon. They have lots of copies in "very good" condition for the modest price of 1p (+ postage).