Alan Bennett at 90.

 On BBC Two - Arena last night the was a tribute to the outstanding British/Yorkshire playwright Alan Bennett at 90. It was rightly an acknowledgment that he is without doubt a -  national treasure, a bit like the White Cliffs of Dover or the Tower of  London. I first came across him at the famous - Establishment Club, on Greek Street, Soho in 1962. I was a policeman at the time working across central London, including Soho. I would go with a couple of colleagues after having had supper at The Escargot restaurant again on Greek Street. I then saw his work at the Mayfair Hotel in 1964 - Beyond the Fringe, it had had a successful run at the Edinburgh Festival. Much later: A Day Out, A Matter of Attribution, 40 Years On, Talking Heads, An Englishman Abroad, History Boys, The Madness of King George and Hallelujah. It’s impossible to think of the British theatre without thinking of him. His close friend and collaborator was for a time the director of the National Theatre, Sir Nicholas Haytner. Bennett, still has a self deprecating manner, inherited from his working class parents. They were a source of much material and he clearly loved them for being - natural and authentic. His voice is also of Yorkshire - with its special intonation and sound. At 90 - let’s hope he continues to write and make us happy - we celebrate his life and work.