Sic transit Lord Monckswell

I started my adult life as a lowly official in the House of Lords, a dotty place to start it, and miss the old unreformed upper house so much. 

Hereditary peers were representative of the people because they were there for the reason we are all here - because of birth. That includes Labour peers like the fifth Lord Monckswell, a former lathe operator, van driver, tractor engineer and fruit juice factory operative, who was jailed for 14 weeks for attacking a Mr Robin Cook, a psychotherapist, at a stress clinic in Chorlton-cum-Hardy. 

His is one of the best Daily Telegraph obituaries, which means the best piece of writing you'll probably read this week.