Lord Harewood changed the face of post-war British culture - Telegraph.co.uk

The Earl of Harewood visited by Queen Elizabeth as part of her nationwide golden jubilee tour  Photo: GETTY(router,verizon wireless,wireless network,wireless internet,i phone,i phone verizon,my verizon wireless,wireless adapter,att wireless)

At a ripe old age, Lord Harewood died yesterday. I only met him once, but our encounter was memorable, and I think it says much about the man.(router,verizon wireless,wireless network,wireless internet,i phone,i phone verizon,my verizon wireless,wireless adapter,att wireless)

About ten years ago, he took exception to some views I had expressed in print relating to the management of English National Opera, an organisation close to his heart, as one which he had done much to create and nurture and of which at that time he remained President.
Rather firmly, I was 'invited' to Harewood House for lunch, during which his secretary told me I could expect Lord Harewood to talk 'frankly'. It was a daunting prospect, but I need not have worried.
Lord and Lady Harewood lived in a modest, comfortable flat in the wing of Harewood House, and they could not have been more welcoming or hospitable.
Lord Harewood and I did indeed talk 'frankly' about ENO, but he did me the honour of respecting my sincerity and made no attempt to pull rank or intimidate me. His only concern was ENO's ultimate well-being - a concern I also shared - and we soon came to amicable and constructive agreement.
It was clear to me what an excellent manager he must have been - firm, objective, sensitive, unhysterical, and principled. If only opera could always have governance of this quality.
Once our formal discussion was over, we got down to the real business - a good lunch and some uninhibited operatic gossip. What a mine of information and experience he could tap and how deep his passion and enthusiasm ran! We talked high and low, about Callas and Britten, about the foundation of Opera magazine, and his pride in Opera North, the company he had been instrumental in establishing down the road in Leeds, as well as about singers, conductors and directors of the day. He could be very funny and did not mince his words, but nothing he said was gratuitously nasty or trivial. Although his health and energy were already in decline, one felt that such conversation recharged his batteries, and I only hope he enjoyed my visit a tenth as much as I did.
Our Royal Family, God bless it, is not noted for either its intellectual stature or artistic sophistication. But Lord Harewood, the Queen's cousin, was the exception: a man who combined intense aesthetic sensibility with practicality and erudition. As someone who changed the face of post-war culture in Britain entirely for the better, his memory should be honoured.
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Hamilton predicts 'best British GP ever'

Lewis Hamilton made his Formula One debut in 2007 and clinched his first world championship in 2008.Lewis Hamilton has predicted the 2011 British Grand Prix could be the best-everThe McLaren driver's future has been the subject of press speculationTeam principal Martin Whitmarsh is confident Hamilton will remain with the marque

(CNN) -- McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton has predicted the 2011 British Grand Prix at Silverstone could be the most exciting in history.

The 2008 world champion won his home race during a victorious campaign three years ago and Hamilton described the maximum-points haul as one of the highlights of his motorsport career.

"I'm really looking forward to Silverstone," Hamilton told Formula One's official web site.

"My victory at Silverstone in 2008 was one of the sweetest and most satisfying moments of my entire Formula One career -- and it's a memory that I always carry with me.

Impressive Vettel powers to another win

Lewis loves this team and he knows the car is capable of winning races
--Martin Whitmarsh

"It's one of the best circuits in the world, and I really think that the arrival of DRS and KERS Hybrid will make this one of the best and most exciting British Grand Prix ever."

KERS -- an innovation that stores energy created under braking for user as an additional boost when accelerating -- was reintroduced to the sport in 2011, while DRS (Drag Reduction System) allows the rear wing of Formula One cars to be adjusted in a way that gives a boost of speed in new for the current season.

Hamilton is currently fourth in the drivers' standings after eight races, 89 points behind current leader and reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull.

The 26-year-old's future has been the subject of much speculation, with reports suggesting he could leave McLaren for the 2011 constructors' champions Red Bull.

But McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh moved to end talk of Hamilton switching allegiances, and said he expects the Stevenage-born racer to remain with the British-based marque.

"Lewis loves this team and he knows the car is capable of winning races," Whitmarsh told British newspaper The Independent.

"He's sat with me here in the last 10 days and explained his passion, enthusiasm and desire to remain part of this team.

"I've known him since he was 11. I don't think he would look me in the eye and say that if he didn't mean it."

Sunday's grand prix will also see McLaren's Jenson Button return to his homeland, where his best finish is fourth place in 2004 and 2010.

The 2009 drivers' champion is 12 points ahead of his compatriot Hamilton and sits second in the standings, 77 points behind Germany's Vettel.

The 31-year-old is looking forward to experiencing the new-look Silverstone, which has a newly-constructed pit lane and paddock complex and first corner.

"With a new start line, a new first corner and an all-new pit and paddock complex, the new facilities should be fantastic," the former Brawn GP driver said. "I think they'll confirm Silverstone as one of the best circuits in the world."

McLaren have claimed two race triumphs this year, with Hamilton taking the checkered flag in China and Button winning a rain-soaked contest in Canada.

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British rain masks impact of rule changes

Sebastien Buemi's Toro Rosso sends up a wall of spray as the Swiss driver negotiates the wet track at Silverstone.F1 drivers unsure of likely effects of rule changes after wet weather hampers practiceRed Bull's Mark Webber, who won British GP in 2010, set fastest time of day in opening sessionFerrari's Felipe Massa quickest in afternoon, three seconds slower than Webber

(CNN) -- Two rain-soaked practice sessions for Sunday's British Grand Prix have left Formula One teams guessing what effect recent rule changes will have on this year's world championship battle.

Motorsport's ruling body, the FIA, has introduced rules banning the use of off-throttle blown diffusers, a technique used by drivers to increase downforce and therefore increase the speed of the car.

But the impact of the law changes was hard to gauge on Friday as drivers wrestled with a wet Silverstone track.

Red Bull's Mark Webber, who won the corresponding race in 2010, setting the fastest time of the day during the opening session.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa was quickest in the afternoon, more than three seconds slower than the Australian's earlier best.

Passing judgment: Hamilton must stay aggressive

Webber's teammate and the current leader of the drivers' standings, Sebastian Vettel, struggled to ascertain the impact of the new restrictions, with conditions frequently changing at the newly-renovated English circuit.

"The circuit was changing a lot today," world champion Vettel told Formula One's official web site after being 13th fastest and then 18th.

"So it was hard to find out too much and understand the effect of the changes introduced this weekend, but we will learn more tomorrow."

Sunday's race will represent a home grand prix for McLaren and their British driver Jenson Button, who is 77 points behind Vettel in the drivers' championship and has never finished higher than fourth at the Northamptonshire circuit.

Vettel takes the quiet road to glory

The 2009 world champion was disappointed to miss out on a chance to assess his car's performance under the new regulations ahead of Saturday's qualifying sessions.

"Today was a bit of a frustrating day for me," said the 31-year-old, who was 15th in the morning and then fifth. "We thought we'd get some good running under our belts this afternoon, but the rain meant that didn't happen, and we didn't really get a chance to evaluate everything.

"Hopefully, it's not going to rain for the rest of the weekend, so we should be able to get a better read on how the new interpretations of the regulations will affect us from tomorrow.

"We don't really know if our new rear wing is an improvement over the older version. It has a different downforce level, but I'm still not sure what we're going to run for the rest of the weekend."

F1 championship standings

Massa's teammate Fernando Alonso has triumphed once before at Silverstone, in 2006 while he was a two-time world champion at Renault, and was runner-up the year before and then again in 2007 in his only season at McLaren.

"It's always nice to come to Silverstone, an historic track for Formula One and for Ferrari, which took its first championship race win here 60 years ago," the Spaniard said.

"I like the new paddock, the only strange thing is the final part of the pit lane, which is lower than the track -- which means the spectators cannot see the pit stops from the grandstands.

"The rain definitely did not help on a day that was meant to allow us mainly to test the new aerodynamic components we have here. Only at the end of the first session did I risk trying a set of slicks to see if the conditions were acceptable, but the track was still too wet."

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