Law Society’s Gazette, January 1970

The Piccadilly Ball, 1969The festive spirit (was) with us once more, even percolating to that most sober bastion of the law, the Associate Members Group. Celebrating the ancient rite of the Annual Ball at the ‘Criterion’ Restaurant in Piccadilly on 14 November – the organisers provided us with a splendid evening of dining and dancing…

Most of us turning up did so under the mistaken impression that (we) were going to take part in a transvestite orgy or at the very least a display of underwear, the invitation having been worded ‘Dear Partici – pant’. However, it soon became clear that this was no more than a perpetuation of an error in the draft by an overzealous typist at The Law Society. The person responsible for the draft is highly embarrassed by the whole thing and his anonymity will be protected. All those of you who made the comment ‘not even a pair of pants’ should be suitably ashamed.

We were lucky in having Ivan Chin to play some attractive music to soothe and The Locomotive to play ‘attractive music’ to invigorate. The oscillation between both ends of the musical spectrum kept the upper room full of happy couples whilst a floor below the Eros Discotheque was in full swing; resembling somewhat a sardine can, the latter was a great success, with psychedelic projections and strobe lights to tickle or bludgeon the senses, depending upon your degree of sensitivity.

However, all seemed to enjoy it, though to escape from the glare and sound some couples were sheltering behind the heavy curtains – at least, that was their excuse.

Philip Avery

Law Society’s Gazette 30 January 1980

Humour in the office

Messrs Kuit, Steinart, Levy & Co received the following reply to a letter informing a client of the restrictive covenants contained in the title deeds of his house:

"I have examined my conscience meticulously and to the best of my knowledge have refrained from indulging in the daunting list of prohibited occupations concerning which you have so sternly warned. I have melted no tallow, boiled neither soap nor tripe, baked no sugar, slaughtered no cattle, and any wine, malt liquors or spirits consumed upon the premises have been in the way of domestic hospitality and offered without charge… so impressive were your admonitions on these points that I have subjected my wife to a merciless cross-examination and she assures me that she has exercised a similar self-control in these matters!’