443Taken on a Eurostar from Paris back to London. He later emailed an explanation: “This was said after getting an A in an A level economics essay. My teacher handed it back to me with that comment.

"Slightly harsh, I thought, but it has always amused me since it's kind of held true over the years. It’s self-deprecating and it’s a nice reminder that people should never underestimate you. (I got a final grade of A in the end for the entire A Level and shut him up).”

If you look closely you'll see an accidental cameo appearance by me. That's my book in the foreground, too.