William Hanson

Today sees Her Majesty The Queen officially 'open' a new session of parliament, which will set out the government's agenda and legislation for the coming year.

Her Majesty is not known to like public speaking, but sees it as a duty that she must perform. The government of the...

First impressions are vital in business. The Apprentice kicks off again on our screens next week and pictures have been released of the latest batch of candidates that will take part in the marathon job interview in order to gain investment from Lord Sugar. What struck me about the latest...

"He's got the whole wide world in his hands," so the children's song goes, although now it can be re-worked: "He's got the whole wide world in his hands... except the British as they refused on the grounds of hygiene".

My thoughts on a proper handshake have been...

Former deputy prime minister John Prescott has said that he told Ed Milliband to wear a jacket, as all leaders should be seen in jackets. I quite agree. Before he became prime minister, David Cameron went through a phase of wearing nothing but off-the-peg, low-cost suits from Marks & Spencer's....

At the weekend, Liverpool footballer and all-round douchebag Luis Suarez refused to shake the hand of Manchester United footballer Patrice Evra. What makes this rather childish refusal even more ludicrous is that it was Suarez who was in the wrong in the first place! For those, like me, who have...

According to the latest figures by Lloyds TSB Home Insurance, dining rooms in British houses are a dying breed. If they are dying over here in Britain (once a bastion of formal dining) then you can bet that they will be fading away in other countries.

The rather...

Christmas is over, the anti-climactic New Year's Eve has mercifully passed and we now face the year ready for a new chapter in our lives. For Britain, 2012 looks to be a non-stop, high-octane barrel of excitement, celebration and pomp. First, we have Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee, to which I...

Not only does December bring the arrival of Christmas decorations being dusted off and scattered throughout the house, but it also brings a much loved British tradition - the pantomime. They take place in theatres usually accustomed to holding shows of a slightly more serious nature where the audience may...

I love a good pudding. At least, I used to. I used to like them until I decided to do a pudding party. I am not sure what came over me. Now, I am used to doing big buffet parties. I used to host three a year here at Hanson...

I was aghast and speechless when I heard that the England football manager, Fabio Capello, would not be attending his own son's wedding on Saturday due to having to manage the England football squad for their friendly match against Spain.

What is the man thinking?! This is his son's wedding,...

Earlier today, Her Majesty The Queen at long last knighted Sir Bruce Forsyth at Buckingham Palace. Investitures take place throughout the year, usually around 25. Most take place at Buckingham Palace, but occasionally there are some that take place at Windsor Castle and Her Majesty's official Scottish residence, Hollyrood Palace,...

A report out today by The Young Foundation suggests that we Britons are not as rude as some people may think we are, but yet when we see a lack of civility and respect our manners quickly slide and situations can escalate 'frighteningly fast'.

Britain as a country is...

I have been snubbed. At least, I think I have been. A few months ago, I tweeted that I was having two friends over for dinner. One of the guest's friends tweeted me back asking where his and his colleague's invitation was to dinner. I replied that they were welcome...

My favourite advertisement on television at the moment is for Gordon's Gin. The scene is of room full of guests enjoying pre-dinner drinks in a traditional English house. Philip Glenister's character remarks about the drink he has just poured and the other guest, a female, he is talking to remarks...

The images we have seen over the last few days of London and other parts of the country are terrible and incredibly depressing. Our once great nation has been reduced to mindless hooliganism. I am not known for being too serious or writing about topics of much gravitas (I mean,...

The British summer is well underway and this can only mean one thing - the barbecues have been wheeled out from storage and are taking pride of place in we Brits' gardens. I shall be honest now and say that I loathe a barbecue and think they should be outlawed...

Selfridges, the upmarket department store chain, have banned their employees in their two Manchester branches from using expressions such as 'hiya', 'see ya' and 'cheers' when addressing customers over fears that they are too colloquial and sounding like Coronation Street extras. Staff at the shops have, understandably, reacted against this...

'Ditch the linen napkins, silver cutlery and crystal wine glasses - the age of the dinner party is traditionally over', proclaimed an article last week in the Scotsman. Imagine my horror when I read that as I sat with my cup of green tea looking through my Entertaining book at...