In his novel 51st State (1998), Peter Preston predicted not only Brexit but its precise circumstances: a chancer prime minister, a needless referendum, a shock result, a forced resignation... The book’s title has not come true. Yet.
In 1983 he offered me the post of cricket correspondent, but I was very happy being the deputy, then a job with a particularly high fun:work ratio. Peter got up from his seat, crossly. “Come on,” he said. “You sit here. You do my job. I’ll be cricket correspondent. How does that sound?” There was no answer to that.
