Franklin Sinclair's president's column in the Manchester Law Society magazine, The Messenger, is fast becoming a monthly must-read. Much like the man in person, he writes in the manner of one who does not pull his punches or doff his cap to the politically correct brigade. Writing this month about the number of dinners his presidential duties take him to, Mr Sinclair notes that 'it's a good job I suffer from bulimia or I'd have put pounds on'. Pictured for no obvious reason standing next to a police car, he then goes on to recount an enjoyable night at Oldham Law Society's dinner, actually held at Rochdale Town Hall, 'a splendid building which Hitler had his eye on should any invasion of Britain have been successful. It was therefore quite a coincidence that the meal should begin with a Goebbels, sorry prawn, cocktail' (that's a 'Fawlty Towers' reference to younger readers). Next up was the Manchester Trainee Solicitors Group dinner. 'I must thank the chair, Jillian Leopold of Cobbetts, for her hospitality, including sitting me next to her on the elevated top table with a fantastic and most pleasing view of some very attractive sights.' Whatever could he mean? Turning finally to more serious matters and his fears that the UK is following the US and turning into a police state, Mr Sinclair says another term of George W Bush and 'his right-wing cronies' is the last thing the world needs. He wails: 'Oh where are John Hinckley and Lee Harvey Oswald when you need them?'