ClementFreudInTheTimes

If I had to choose just one of the many careers I am lucky enough to combine, it’s most likely that I would opt to design jewellery. There is an exceptional sense of satisfaction in working ancient patterns, modern inspirations and million-year-old crystals together to create something vibrant and beautiful.

In extracts from the book he was compiling when he died, the raconteur and wit recalls tales of the turf

Uri Geller came to open a fête in my constituency, said he would not buy a raffle ticket because he always won and people didn’t like that. He was bullied into buying one ticket, one out of 2,500, and won. I showed him a sales catalogue, he chose a horse and we called her Spoonbender and owned her in partnership. Uri came up with some quite impressive reasons why she always ran so badly.