On 22nd November 1990 (Thanksgiving Day!) Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher resigned as Conservative leader after weeks of rumours and high expectations.

That November, the Artiste Gallery in Bath had an exhibition of the paintings of surrealist absurdist cartoonist and writer Glen Baxter, already famous for his hilarious pictures with their bizarre captions, often underlining the pompous nonsense of arts and literary speak.

The collection included paintings from Baxter’s 1974 book Fruits of the World in Danger, and I was in the gallery that Thursday morning, looking at a small fruit languishing on a mountain pass, crags above it and a chasm below. A herd of bison was thundering round the bend towards the hapless prunus …

Then came the cry. She’s gone!!! The gallery owner opened a bottle of bubbles and there a handful of Baxter-loving visitors stood, celebrating excitement and relief in Bath. The apricot was safe.

A few days later I was lucky enough to meet Glen Baxter in London, and I was able to tell him why Fruits of the World in Danger – the Apricot had been so important in the day’s event.

Here is what he wrote in my copy of his book. May he rest in peace and find all the humour heaven has to offer.

GP-W