Dear friends, we have a new member. He described himself to me as:

'a fellow pie n mash luver (age 31 been consuming P n M for 28 of those years). I have connections, family friends owned the Eel and Pie shop on Wandsworth Bridge Road.'

Let me reassure you that connections and pedigrees, impressive though they may be, curry no favour in the Pie and Mash Club. We are truly a collection of (mainly non-vegetarian) egalitarian proletarians. That said, we were delighted to welcome the estimable Alan Terry for some grub at Tower Bridge Manze's. He had enjoyed a brisk stroll over the bridge from his Liv Street office to join us for some scoff in the oldest Pie House in the World.

On the near right is Thomas Kraft. To be honest I haven't got the foggiest idea what he's pondering; a pastry prognostication perhaps? The Gospel According to Thomas? Unfortunately some 'residuals' on his plate at the end of the meal besmirched an otherwise tidy performance from the talented theologian.

Seen here, Edward Mosse trying to convince us of the quality of 'Peter's Pies'. A sponsor of the London Wasps they may be, but beware of perfect pie cutaways and the glossy allure of food photography.

Our galloping gourmand, Mister Darlow, arrived a shade late to join us at our characteristically narrow marble top, and we had to leave while he was still mid-mash. As a self-appointed 'Temporary Acting Official Adjudicator' he informed me in a later notandum that 'the plates were emptied to the level of cleanliness that they could have been put back into the serving pile without being washed'.

Here we are gathered at the aformentioned marble top. Eddie shows a cheek bulge worthy of a competition hamster, but I can assure you that there followed a rhythmic contraction of smooth muscles to propel the contents safely through the Mosse digestive tract.

Lucky we got out of there just before the riot police arrived. Those guys have got serious appetites, and they don't take no prisoners. The getaway vehicle in this case was a large red 'people carrier' with extra seating on top.

See you soon,

St@