Simon Blackburn
Worst gift received: I was given a bottle of aftershave (which I never use) “with best wishes to Simon from Billie, Xmas 1980.” Noticing the label was peeling, I pulled it off, to find another saying “with best wishes to Billie from Margaret, Xmas 1979.” But this gives me so much pleasure when I bring it to mind that it can’t be the worst after all.
Vicky Pryce
Best gift received: a black and purple vintage BSA 250 motorbike from my parents when a student, though proved too heavy to get on and off and had to be eventually exchanged for my first Mini.
Worst: a kitten. To someone who never had animals living in the house it required huge logistical effort and adjustment and the construction of a home from home in the garden where the cat lived happily as it grew and multiplied for a decade or so—but with increasingly frequent forays into the main house as my resistance weakened.
Best gift given: second hand cars to my eldest daughters as soon as they passed tests at 17 which then obliged them to take younger ones to school and attend parents evenings in my place.
Worst: a beautiful orange cashmere jumper given to a male member of my family which was immediately rejected by their colour consultant being the wrong shade for their image.
More: Jemima Khan, Jon Snow and others tell Prospect about their best presents—and the worst—here
Worst gift received: I was given a bottle of aftershave (which I never use) “with best wishes to Simon from Billie, Xmas 1980.” Noticing the label was peeling, I pulled it off, to find another saying “with best wishes to Billie from Margaret, Xmas 1979.” But this gives me so much pleasure when I bring it to mind that it can’t be the worst after all.
Vicky Pryce
Best gift received: a black and purple vintage BSA 250 motorbike from my parents when a student, though proved too heavy to get on and off and had to be eventually exchanged for my first Mini.
Worst: a kitten. To someone who never had animals living in the house it required huge logistical effort and adjustment and the construction of a home from home in the garden where the cat lived happily as it grew and multiplied for a decade or so—but with increasingly frequent forays into the main house as my resistance weakened.
Best gift given: second hand cars to my eldest daughters as soon as they passed tests at 17 which then obliged them to take younger ones to school and attend parents evenings in my place.
Worst: a beautiful orange cashmere jumper given to a male member of my family which was immediately rejected by their colour consultant being the wrong shade for their image.
More: Jemima Khan, Jon Snow and others tell Prospect about their best presents—and the worst—here
