Londoner's Diary: A 2017 review

Another busy year in the Londoner's Diary. Here's who really made an impression in our pages in 2017... 
Edward Enninful
(Getty)
Londoner's Diary22 December 2017

Edward Enninful - The Debut

In a year of coming and goings, the most hotly-anticipated arrival at Conde Nast was Edward Enninful, new editor of Vogue. Assisted by his Boston Terrier Ru, Enninful’s debut was a publishing highlight of the year. More in 2018, please.

Bernie Katz - The Gatekeeper

Bernie Katz 
Getty Images for The British Fil

When Bernie Katz, Prince of Soho and gatekeeper to the Groucho Club died, a bit of London’s glitz went too. “Five foot nothing and a heart twice the size of Soho Square,” mourned Stephen Fry. We’ll miss him, and his leopard-print jacket.

Maria Balshaw - The Art Angel

Maria Balshaw: director of the Tate
Dave Benett

Maria Balshaw, director of the Tate, made waves when she was confirmed as the museums’ first female director. Lured down from Manchester, the free-tweeting Balshaw has brought infectious energy and a sense of fun to the capital.

Jeremy Corbyn - The Surprise

Jeremy Corbyn (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Getty Images

He started 2017 as something of a national joke and finished it gleefully tormenting the PM, having risen like a lion and resuscitated the Labour Party. “Oh Jeremy Corbyn” was the chant of the summer – easier on the ear than “strong and stable.”

David Davis - The Twitcher

Blue tit (PA)

Brexit Secretary David Davis has, the Londoner noted, been looking at tits on his office computer. Blue tits: he’s got a live cam to his garden. Is that why he’s been too busy to produce those 58 Brexit impact assessments we’d been promised?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - The Fairytale Couple

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
ARRIZAB/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Another exciting year for those devoted to the royal family, as actress Meghan Markle said “Yes” to Prince Harry. The couple announced their engagement in November after a simple yet romantic proposal in Nottingham Cottage in the grounds of Kensington Palace.

The pair revealed in the post-hysteria interview that they had only gone on a couple of dates before Harry took her on a trip to Botswana, and added a mystery by refusing to divulge the identity of who set them up. All fingers, though, point to designer Misha Nonoo.

The venue is booked – St George’s Chapel in Windsor – and the date has been set for May 19th, the same day as the FA Cup Final and, incidentally, the anniversary of the beheading of Anne Boleyn. Meghan, of course, will have a far happier ending.

John Humphrys - The Wager

John Humphrys (BBC)

Men of the church don’t often place wagers but South London vicar Giles Fraser did so with the Today programme’s John Humphrys. The issue? Whether more Brits attended church or football matches. Fraser claimed victory.

Humphrys snarled but promised to deliver a handsome fiver, or add a nought and send it to charity, if Fraser could send his evidence. We did the sums for them: church attendance is 5%, football match attendance 3%. Praise be.

Stanley Johnson - The Daddy

Stanley Johnson
ITV/Rex

At long last, the son has emerged from his father’s shadow. Hang on, that’s not right… it’s the father who’s eclipsed the son. Step forward Stanley Johnson, father of Boris, Rachel, Jo et al, and now star of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

Sir David Tang - The Heavenly Host

Kate Moss with the late Sir David Tang
Getty

Sir David Tang passed in August. The businessman was a prolific cigar smoker, owner of a groaning rolodex and a friend to the stars. He died just before he could host his farewell bash at the Dorchester.

Munroe Bergdorf - The Cover Girl

 Munroe Bergdorf
Getty Images

Model and activist Munroe Bergdorf spoke out against society’s ingrained racism, losing a L’Oreal contract in the process. But she found success in adversity, becoming an exciting voice on the London scene.

Woody Johnson - The Ambassador

Woody Johnson 
EPA

This year we bade farewell to US ambassador Matthew Barzun and welcomed his successor Woody Johnson, a man so upstanding they named him twice. Woody, who owns the New York Jets, will be centre-stage when Trump visits for the opening of the new US embassy next year. Mind the moat.

Flo Morrissey and Benjamin Clementine - The Perfect Duet

Flo Morrissey and Benjamin Clementine
Dave Benett/Getty Images for Bur

Flo started the year with a treat by releasing Gentlewoman, Ruby Man, an album with American Matthew E. White. She reaches Christmas days away from giving birth to a baby girl. Singer Benjamin Clementine is the proud dad.

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