Letters by Lawrence of Arabia discovered

London, Sept 19 (ANI): Fascinating letters written by Lawrence of Arabia have been found years after they were thought to have been burned on a fire.

In the letters, the hero of the Arab revolt in the First World War talks about his love of motorcycles, which led to his death in a road accident in 1935, reports The Telegraph.

Speaking about one of his machines, he wrote: “It’s a heavenly bike, goes like smoke and is as smooth as milk to ride.”

The correspondence – found when an envelope fell out of an old book – will be auctioned on October 1 in Dorchester, Dorset, and could fetch more than 10,000 pounds.

Dorset historian Rodney Legg, who has written numerous books on Lawrence, said: “It’s mysterious how Lawrence managed to balance his finances. He sometimes spent lavishly and at other times wrote letters to friends proclaiming poverty.

“So anything that throws light on the relationship with his banker is quite revealing.” (ANI)

Brit MP questions UK Govt. for spending money on Musharraf’s security

London, July 10 (ANI): A British parliamentarian of Pakistani origin has tabled a bill in the House of Lords against security being provided by Scotland Yard to former president Pervez Musharraf.

Lord Nazir Ahmed confirmed that five to six officers will accompany Musharraf wherever he goes. Quoting sources, Lord Ahmed said the detail would comprise of Scotland Yard agents.

Lord Nazir in his bill has questioned the British Government for spending money on Musharraf’s security, as there is no such practice for any other former head of state or government currently residing in the UK.

He disclosed that when Musharraf visited a music shop located at the Ilford Lane in East London and famous Dorchester Hotel in Park Lane for listening songs, six bodyguards from the Scotland Yard stood on alert outside the premises.

Lord Nazir further said only two guards are provided to former prime ministers of Great Britain while UAE rulers move without any security, then why could Musharraf not live without such arrangements.

Lord Nazir further raised the question of whether this sort of security is provided to other former heads of states, and if there is some financial contribution by the Pakistani Government in Musharraf’s case.

Lord Nazir said that while this might be a personal request by Musharraf, the question remains who will pay for the service?

He alleged that Musharraf bought flats worth of 1.4 million pounds in the UK and was keeping as many as six bodyguards. It is a question that has to be brought under the microscope.

The Dawn quoted Lord Nazir as describing the situation as “not normal” and that it “concerned him.” (ANI)

Jordan to spill the beans on her broken marriage on ITV

London, July 2 (ANI): Katie Price a.k.a Jordan is set to spill the beans on her broken marriage Peter Andre on ITV.

This will be the first time that she has spoken officially in public since the split.

The glamour model is going to tell-all in an exclusive interview with her old pal Piers Morgan.

Jordan sealed the deal on Monday with the Britain’s Got Talent judge at London’s Dorchester Hotel.

Morgan will ask her about the reasons that led to the break-up of her four-year marriage.

Jordan would be asked about her antics during her now-famous meltdown holiday on Ibiza, when she cavorted near-naked in nightclubs with a clutch of hunky fellas.

The 31-year-old also faces awkward questions about her friendships with other men. She is expected to be asked about hunky riding instructor Andrew Gould, whom she raced to see when she got home from the wild island.

“Piers is over the moon to get the Jordan exclusive. Jonathan Ross will be green with envy that she turned him down and went with his biggest rival,” the Daily Star quoted an insider as saying. (ANI)

Queen Mary’s letters to friend to go under the hammer

London, May 14 (ANI): A collection of personal letters and photographs addressed to a friend by Queen Mary have come into the limelight for the first time and are set to go under the hammer.

The collection, spanning half a century, unravels the correspondence between the royal and her friend, Kate Rube, and later Rube’s daughter Elizabeth Gillman.

The set includes details of the birth and christening of Queen Elizabeth II, cheques made out to Queen Mary from her pal, Christmas cards from the Queen, messages of thanks, photographs and telegrams.

And now Rube’s great granddaughter, Ann Wilton, has decided to sell the family treasures.

“I have no idea how my great grandmother became friendly with the Queen. I would really like to know, but the details have been lost in the mists of time,” the Telegraph quoted Ann as saying.

“I know my great grandfather was wealthy and put a lot of money towards building the Royal Albert Hall, so maybe that was how they met. The Queen and my great grandmother remained friends and after she died the Queen continued to correspond with my grandmother,” she added.

The collection of more than 50 items of correspondence is expected to fetch more than 1,000 pounds at the auction at Duke’s of Dorchester in Dorset on May 30.

Deborah Doyle from Duke’s, said: “This amazing collection of Queen Mary ephemera must be one of the largest and varied important collections to come onto the open market. The collection is sure to appeal to many collectors.” (ANI)

Britney demands for ‘never smoked in’ hotel room during London visit

New Delhi, May 9 (ANI): Pop princess Britney Spears is proving to be a “diva” in the true sense, as she has demanded a hotel room that has never been smoked in during her London visit.

The ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ hitmaker, who is gearing up to extend her Circus tour to Europe, will be visiting London in June.

According to the China Daily, she has laid down multifarious demands regarding her stay at London’s Dorchester hotel.

Although Britney will be staying at the hotel for just 2 weeks, she has asked the hotel authorities to arrange humidifiers in every room, get Marilyn Monroe DVDs and 100 watt light bulbs.

The list of her demands doesn’t end here, as she has even demanded for fresh flowers, which she intends to arrange herself, celebrity magazines and women’s novels.

“Britney may only be staying in the city for two weeks but she knows exactly what she wants,” a source told London’s Daily Star newspaper.

“She’ll be bringing all her own pillows for ultra comfort and her security will sleep outside her suite every night,” the source added.

Britney has also called for tickets for West End theatre productions, as well as a place for horse riding and a map of running routes around the nearby Hyde Park.

It has also been reported that she is planning to charter a plane to fly to her another UK date which is 200 miles away.

“Britney is also hoping to make a private visit to Kensington Palace. She has decided she will travel by private plane to Manchester – then fly straight back to London,” the source added.

Britney will appear at London’s O2 arena for eight shows between June 3 and 14. (ANI)

Secret to Britney Spears’ fit body – pole dancing!

London, May 1 (ANI): The secret behind Britney Spears’ fit body has been revealed – pole dancing.

The 27-year-old star has installed an eight-foot metal pole in her 1,100 pound-a-night penthouse suite at London’s posh Dorchester hotel, when her Circus world tour begins its UK leg.

“Britney has a huge fan base in the UK and really wants her shows here to be a hit,” the Mirror quoted a source as saying.

“Pole-dancing is an excellent cardio and fat-burning workout, and Britney has had private classes in her studio gym in LA.

“She wants to keep up her exercise regime on tour. Luckily, the hotel was happy to accommodate her needs.

“She can swing around her pole while watching TV or listening to music. Climbing up it requires real core strength. It really is hard work.

“In addition, she’ll have a treadmill and stepper brought to her suite, as well as a sit-up machine. By the time Britney takes to the stage, her six-pack of old will be back!” the source added. (ANI)

Even in sandals Elle Macpherson makes fashion statement

London, Apr 30 (ANI): Aussie model Elle Macpherson has showed that she can still look glam at 45 in a mini dress and sandals.

Macpherson, who is a six-footer, dressed down in a teeny white dress and gold flats at a dinner for American fashion designer Michael Kors at China Tang in the Dorchester hotel.

“Not many 45-year-olds can get away with a mini dress and bare legs but Elle can still carry it off,” the Daily Express quoted one admiring guest as saying.

“Even in her sandals she towered over half of the men in the room including Michael Kors – so it was probably a good idea to leave the heels at home!” the guest added. (ANI)

When Penny Lancaster had a fit of shyness

London, Mar 30 (ANI): Brit model Penny Lancaster was spotted displaying her shy side as she left London’s Dorchester hotel, with her legs covered up.

Lancaster, 38, who is married to rock singer Rod Stewart, was wearing one of her usual ultra-short dresses and black tights, but when they developed a ladder she took them off.

“It seems Penny thought she was showing a bit too much bare leg as she got two friends to cover up her legs with a shawl as she left the venue when she saw snappers were waiting,” the Daily Express quoted a source as saying.

“When she then got in the car, she made sure her legs were clamped closely together to avoid any unnecessary display of flesh. She seemed to find it all highly amusing,” the source added. (ANI)

Brangelina ‘shun posh eateries for pre-Bafta meal at Indian curry house’

London, February 10 (ANI): Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were said to have given a cold shoulder to London’s posh restaurants to enjoy a meal at a local curry house just before the BAFTA ceremony.

The couple, who were staying at the Dorchester hotel on Park Lane, had apparently ditched the Alain Ducasse restaurant to dine at the Noor Jahan, an Indian restaurant in South Kensington.

According to Shauyab Ahmed, part-owner of the restaurant, the pair were later joined by their celebrity friends Claudia Schiffer, her director hubby Matthew Vaughn and actor Robert Downey Junior.

“They booked a table for 12 at 7.30pm and were a bit late arriving, but that was OK. The other customers loved it and were very happy to see them,” the Telegraph quoted Ahmed as saying.

It was further alleged that the A-listers feasted on vegetable samosas, tandoori lamb chops and the house special, lamb passanda – a Vaughn favourite, who apparently recommended the 40-seat restaurant.

Ahmed added: “Matthew comes in here all the time with Claudia. He loves the lamb passanda,he always has that. Brad and Angelina seemed to love the food, too. They ate it all.” (ANI)

Big Brother’s La Toya Jackson quotes £55,000 to meet fans

London, Jan 26 (ANI): In a clear case of unreasonable cashing on success, Celebrity Big Brother’s La Toya Jackson is charging a whopping 55,000 pounds for a meet-and-greet with fans, despite being the fourth evictee from the show.

And if this was not enough, La Toya, 52, has asked her promoters to pay for a 4,000 pounds-a-night suite at London’s Dorchester Hotel along with travelling costs.

On the other hand, A1′s Ben Adams, 27, who made it to the final five on the Channel 4 show, is asking for 3,000 pounds for his meet-and-greets, while Tina Malone, 45, is quoting 1,750 pounds.

And to top it all, La Toya’s manager Jeffre Phillips has insisted that the US singer won’t be performing on her outings, despite the costs.

One promoter who tried to book La Toya has said that the singer is quoting unreal prices for her act.

“It is probably the most we’ve been quoted for an act coming out of the show. It’s ridiculous, they need a reality check. La Toya is living in Cloud Cuckoo land,” the Mirror quoted the promoter as saying. (ANI)

Kate Moss gets Lionel Richie to serenade her during birthday party

London, January 17 (ANI): Fashion world’s wild woman Kate Moss had a superb birthday bash on Thursday, when Lionel Richie accepted the model’s request to sing his party anthem ‘All Night Long’ for her.

The supermodel, who turned 35 on Friday, kicked off her festivities early with a bash at London’s Dorchester on Thursday.

After enjoying a meal in the hotel’s China Tang restaurant, she found Lionel at the main bar, and requested him to sing his famous tune for her.

Lionel did agree to perform, and Moss’ Kills rocker pal Jamie Hince provided drums by bashing the top of a table.

“It was brilliant, a total surprise, and really made the night. Lionel was at the main bar while Kate partied in a private area when she spotted him,” the Sun quoted a pal as saying.

“She went over and asked him to sing All Night Long for her and her guests and he did it. Everyone was dancing on the tables and Jamie was on percussion. It was so much fun,” the pal added. (ANI)