Tring in Hertfordshire is a town I know very well because my sister, Linda, lived there in the late 60s/ early 70s. I now know it for the book festival that Ben Moorhouse, owner of the town’s independent bookshop, organises every year.

This year I participated in the political panel on Friday night, before being interviewed about my Harold Wilson biography on Saturday morning.

Presiding over both events was the incomparable John Sergeant, former chief political correspondent at both BBC and ITN. At the Friday event he had us (me, David Gauke, Camilla Tominey and local MP Victoria Collins) discussing the budget, the BBC, trans rights and what Kier Starmer needs to do to improve his popularity ratings.

On Saturday I found myself being interviewed by a man who’d not only met Harold but worked for the Liverpool Echo when Wilson represented a constituency in the city. John snd his wonderful wife, Mary, had some great stories which I’d have included in the book had it not already been written.

Both Tring events were joyful with the added advantage that over a hundred of my books were sold.