The Oldie

The idea for the Oldie was cooked up 25 years ago by its founding editor, Richard Ingrams, and his much-lamented successor, the late Alexander Chancellor. Their aim was to create a free-thinking, funny magazine, a light-hearted alternative to a press obsessed with youth and celebrity. The Oldie is ageless and timeless, free of retirement advice, crammed with rejuvenating wit, intelligence and delight. With over 100 pages in every issue, The Oldie is packed with funny cartoons and free-thinking and intelligent articles covering a wide range of topics – from gardening and books to travel, arts, entertainment, and so much more.

The Oldie

Among this month's contributors

The Old Un's Notes

NOT MANY DEAD • Important stories you may have missed

My Jamaican holiday with the Master • Fifty years after Noël Coward's death, I toasted him with Chris Blackwell, founder of Island Records and friend of Bob Marley

My banking crisis • New definition of Hell? Trying to talk to a real person at my local branch

OLDEN LIFE

MODERN LIFE

Through your keyhole • Who lived in your house before – and when was it built? House detective Angela Lownie reveals all

Your money's gone • Griff Rhys Jones thought his savings were as safe as houses – until his bank crashed

My Hotel Hell • On tour, Prue Leith stayed in 30 hotels – and was driven mad by lights, duvets, tiny fridges and the loo paper

Who Dares Wins • Mike Sadler, 103, the oldest survivor of the early SAS, fought his way through Italy, France and the unforgiving deserts of North Africa

I want to be alone • After the Coronation, royal expert Hugo Vickers will become a recluse and say a fond farewell to parties, London – and sex

I love taking down particulars • For decades, Nicholas Lezard has been using police notebooks. They're ideal for coppers – and writers

Ode to the Queen • By Sir Les Patterson – recited at the Oldie of the Year 2021

Four of a kind • The Oldie mourns four great columnists: Barry Humphries (1934— 2023), Dame Edna Everage, Sir Les Patterson and Barry McKenzie

Fleet Street is full of robots • Artificial intelligence is more original than most columnists

RIP practical jokes • The 20th century was rich with hilarious pranksters, from Orson Welles to Henry Root. Why are there no jokers today?

Aspects of bohemian love • Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical is based on a book by Bunny Garnett, Bloomsbury Group writer – and Liz Hodgkinson's childhood neighbour

RIP Old King Coal • On 1st May, coal deliveries were banned. Hunter Davies mourns the coalmen who used to pour coal straight into his Carlisle kitchen

How I got the horn • After his marriage fell apart, Jasper Rees found solace in the French horn he'd last played at school

Roll up! Roll up! Miracle tights are here • Hallelujah – there are no gussets, seams or sagging

Forgotten Box set • Muriel Box, the first woman to win a screenplay Oscar, was once neglected. Now she's back in the limelight.

Danger! Railway cuttings • Sixty years ago, Dr Beeching wrote the report that closed Adlestrop Station

Start spreading the news: New York is scary

I've got greenhouse envy

Things ain't what they used to be • Where are the stuffy reactionaries who used to defend the good old days? asks Mary Kenny

In search of my lost love, Ramona • Thirty years on, my pin-up still drinks cherry whisky with a shot of Tizer. But everything else about her has changed – for the worse

Watch out! There's an Ofsted inspector about

Quite Interesting Things about… words

My great escape – to a London art show

Ronald Blythe, CBE FRSL (1922-2023)

Highs and lows...