Katharine Whitehorn
A visit to the John Lewis department store forms the Secret Life of journalist Katherine Whitehorn.
The haberdashery department, a hot griddle section in the food hall, very nice baby changing facilities and one of the few places you can still get a kilt pin, a fireguard and some nice Bromley soaps in a presentation pack all under one roof.
John Lewis - I love it! Have you seen how many different coloured bath towels you can buy?
Complain about this postCharlotte
How I agree about John Lewis . I go there when I feel like a treat but have no idea what it might be. I walk round in a bit of a daze avoiding the make up artists who have a rather hynotic effect which can result in buying some totally unsuitable shade of lipsick which seemed like a good idea at the time.
Love the show.
Arabella ( don't use my real name please)
Complain about this postIfI need comfort shopping I'll go looking for white towels. I once told some learned gentlemen that I'd been buying white towels because I had had a bad day and they were horrified.
Complain about this postHow I agree about John Lewis . I go there when I feel like a treat but have no idea what it might be. I walk round in a bit of a daze avoiding the make up artists who have a rather hynotic effect which can result in buying some totally unsuitable shade of lipsick which seemed like a good idea at the time.
Love the show.
Arabella
Complain about this postYour John Lewis/Katherine Whitehorn piece has made me want to run out (as soon as Saturday Live has finished, of course) down to John Lewis Nottingham this very morning. I LOVE John Lewis. Katherine Whitehorn summed up the ambience/safety/wonderful (though NEVER obsequious) courtesy perfectly. Also listening to Katherine's oh-so-posh tones reminded me of how much I enjoyed reading her columns in The Observer in the 70s. Ho-hum. Lovely memories - and maybe that's another reason why I love John Lewis: it's been a constant in this ever-changing faster-faster, frenetic world...
Complain about this postLovely to hear Catharine Whitehorn on the show. Somewhere around 1963/64, her Observer article on being a slut was a great source of solace to many of us young career women. She may like to know that I, fofr one, have remained true to the faith.
Complain about this postI knew exactly what the contributor (was it Fi Glover) meant this morning when she said it was a comforting place for pregnant women. My own daughter would definitely have been born in the Windsor branch had it not been a Monday when, in those days, they were closed all day. Sadly the Windsor branch closed this year and all my friends have a huge sense of loss....
Complain about this postI love the John Lewis department stores. I often think that the world would be nicer place if it were filled with the sort of people who have morning coffee in John Lewis' cafe during Monday to Friday !
Complain about this postI do hope you will be in touch with the Department of Health. We look forward to the next initiative from Patricia Hewitt that hairdressers will be used to take the load of Accident and Emergency departments
Complain about this post"Spiritual solace" - how very true. I know exactly what Katherine Whitehorn means. There are ups and downs in life, and in the downs I head for John Lewis or Waitrose. They are oases. Nothing bad can ever happen there - the staff are kind and helpful, and everything is orderly. Long live John Lewis.
Complain about this postGood God, look at that woman with the hat, doesn't she look dreadful!..Please give this fabulously well spoken lady more airtime. That quote alone has had me smiling all day long. I hope the lovely Katherine will forgive me but I might just have to make it my new ringtone!
Complain about this postWonderfully feminine.
Complain about this postLoved Katherine Whitehorn's piece, and her delivery, on Saturday Live.
Please, please Radio 4, could she guest, or present, regularly on the station?
Complain about this postLove John Lewis (they stock my designs)-but dear Katherine Whitehorn was never employed for her eagle-eye investigative qualities, viz: John Lewis quietly dropped the 'Never Knowingly Undersold' about 4 years ago. It is no longer true and the beeb shouldn't be perpetuating marketing myths. Bet John Lewis hasn't rung to complain.
Complain about this postJohn Lewis is a kind of socialist dream-come-true, the staff get the profits- each March they get a lump sum of about 14% of their annual salary, all the goodies shared. Just think of what that would mean if Tescos took a leaf out of the John Lewis handbook and shared out their 拢6 billon profit amongst the shelf stackers.
If you could only get Dandie Dinmonts at John Lewis life would be perfect.
Loved Matt Harvey's poems!
Complain about this postI knew Katharine (Katy) in the 1950s at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. She and I and four other graduate students shared a flat. What a terrific year we had! I would live it over again if I could.
Complain about this postJoan