People and Business: Left-wing links

WHILE WE'RE on the subject, Tom King was a socialist firebrand in his youth. OK, not the former Tory cabinet minister, but Tom King the former director of corporate affairs at Standard Life who retired this week after 32 years with the company.

Mr King, 57, left his more left-wing leanings behind him some time ago. According to a colleague, "golfing is his life". Another says that Mr King's main passion, after his family and work colleagues, is "fine wines". Not much proletarian solidarity there.

Mr King joined the Edinburgh based insurer in July 1967 as a tax specialist. He spent much of the 1970s in the south of England as a sales manager, but returned northwards for the rest of his career. He will not be severing his ties with Standard Life completely. "Mr King will continue to manage the Standard Life Loch Lomond golf tournament," says a spokeswoman. Long live the revolution.