It has been a heartening experience, after the initial shock, to hear such warm tributes to Tony's legacy - The South Bank Open Foyers policy - to the "Appreciations" in last week's Guardian; particularly the wonderful story of hedgehog ladders from John Carr at the former Greater London Council. My story of necessity must contain a disclaimer for many of my friends insist that my stories become embellished over the years. And so it is here. As Tony's special adviser at the GLC for the arts for 5 years, I had an office across the corridor from Tony and John at County Hall and well remember my failure to understand the vital life saving role these ladders had in protecting the hedgehog population on GLC lands. Indeed, I was asked to contribute to a committee report to take this forward. Returning to my office one day I found notes from Tony proposing this wildlife conservation measure. I failed to grasp the seriousness of the issue and scribbled on Tony's notes - it's not April 1st yet! Unfortunately, I was called away and left the unguarded comment on my desk, which on his return Tony Banks saw. Later that afternoon, I was summoned to the presence of the Chairman of the Arts & Recreation Committee for a dressing down. This was one of many frank exchanges I had with Tony over the years at the end of which he would assert that he was elected and I was not (good point) and I would retort "well Hitler was elected". This usually resulted in me being sacked once a week. John Carr's story, one of many untold stories of the GLC, is important because it points to Tony's lifelong commitment to animal welfare - an imperative that Tony Banks and Ken Livingstone have always shared. Ken and Tony never intervened in the content of GLC funded shows, both supporting, for example, The Romans in Britain but both threatened a famous London theatre (with loss of their GLC grant) when a live cat was thrown across the stage (supervised by the RSPCA) in a play. Regular secret meetings held with the Duke of Edinburgh, in his role as President of the World Wildlife Fund, at County Hall are testament to this commitment. The issue was always much bigger than hedgehogs or newts for that matter!

The tribute from the South Bank is particularly welcome as a recognition of Tony's wish to see the South Bank Concert Halls (as they were then called) into an arts centre committed to what would now be called "cultural diversity". Indeed Tony would welcome the positive images of black athletes used in our Olympic Bid film but contrasted these images of cultural diversity with the reality that since the demise of the GLC hundreds of black arts companies have been wiped out. In a capital city with 30% of its population from BME groups it is staggering that not one black group owns and manages an arts centre or theatre. The recent attacks on the eminent black arts campaigner Adzido Dance, Talawa Theatre and Badejo Arts are part of this pattern of decline. So Tony's vision showed as much commitment to the GLC's Ethnic Arts & Community Arts programmes as to shutting down the Royal Festival Hall champagne bar or opening up the Purcell room to Gary Glitter. There was an unwavering commitment to popular culture and a recognition that the taxpayers of London had a right to represent their own indigenous culture through the potential languages of the arts; as important to encourage in Southall as the South Bank. It is sad indeed that Ken's new Greater London Authority has little or no cultural powers or spending to give all Londoners a cultural voice. Leaving the cultural health of London to the arts and sports quangos, leaves a damaging political deficit; as black and white tax payers would assert "no taxation without democratic and cultural representation".

The untold GLC stories, and there are many, deserve to be told not only because of the political dumbing down that has ensued but, as Tony Banks showed the use of humour to advance political gains (informally) and the use of political gains to advance access to arts & sports (like the NHS) was revolutionary in the 80's. Add to this Tony's mischievous personality and you have the explosive mix which led to Tony calling William Undergrove MP a "4 eyed git" - which led to his temporary expulsion from the Commons, by a furious Speaker, Betty Boothroyd.

The untold stories include "the 4 eyed git"; the Covent Garden inflated strawberry; the Peace Year horses which bit the Mayor of Westminster; Trevor Howard (the actor) and the 100 year GLC lease for the NFT; the Battersea Park Pagoda and Ken on an elephant; the theft of a Vermeer from Kenwood House and its recovery by a clairvoyant; the burning of a rubber submarine sculpture on the South Bank with the death of the artist; the September in the Pink gay arts festival; the rescue of the closed Cottesloe Theatre with the misappropriation of the London canals budget; the Trocadero Metro Cinema; cultural buggery at Riverside Studios; Jack Jones and the Karl Marx Music Hall; evicting the Arts Council from the Hayward Gallery; Colin Davis and Tony Banks in white suits and the opening ceremony for the Thames Barrier. All these stories are part of Tony's legacy and genius. The last story should be told now, not just because in the 1980's the Thames Barrier was the largest civil engineering project in Europe; not just because the barrier workers wanted a Royal opening and the GLC didn't but because, above all else, it showed what consummate politicians Tony and Ken were: strengthened by brilliant and, at times, anarchic humour.

During the London mayoral elections, recently, the candidates attended a meeting at Millbank Tower, the Labour Party HQ. Everyone remarked on the large stunning plaque in red and yellow saying support New Labour & New Britain. A portrait of Tony Blair was hung proudly alongside in the foyer. As we all left the meeting later the New Labour logo had been amended to "Support Newt Labour"! Enough said.

The Thames Barrier launch was always planned, by Ken & Tony to be a low-key inexpensive affair. As part of the Arts & Recreation committee's legal and financial responsibility for the River Thames; the launch event fell to the arts committee chaired by Tony Banks to organise. Like the hedgehog ladders I assumed that it was nothing to do with me; but was instructed by Tony to come up with some ideas, i.e. a short ceremony, with few guests and a miniscule budget. Imagine our dismay when the Thames Barrier workers threatened to go on strike unless a Royal Opening was organised. Both Ken & Tony made clear their opposition to the proposal but under pressure from the unions were obliged to cave in. Tony suggested to me that the only way around this problem was to send an invitation (via the GLC's protocol office) to Charles & Diana - who were regular attenders as guests of the GLC at the Festival Hall. Ken was reassured that Charles and Di were good friends of the GLC and could be relied upon to participate in a low key, inexpensive event. The Conservative councillors were incensed at this potential lack of respect and cheap-skate approach.

All the same, the invitation was despatched to Kensington Palace. What happened next was to blow the whole proceeding sky-high. Instead of a reply, a letter was sent to Ken (direct) from the Queen Mother protesting that junior members of the Royal Family had sufficient if not excessive press coverage which was in danger of over-emphasising their position; giving the impression of a disregard for the established protocols and a feeling that the older royals may not be welcome. When QE2's (as she was called) letter arrived at County Hall all hell broke out. Ken was enraged and beside himself. Tony Banks and me were summoned to Ken's office to explain ourselves. The GLC protocol offices pointed out that the Queen Mother's letter had not gone through Whitehall channels but was a personal hand-written note to Ken.

More pandemonium, more wringing of hands! Despite Ken and Tony's anger it was agreed that the only course of action was for Ken to invite the Queen Mum to open the barrier. The protocol office pointed out that the possibility of keeping this a low-key event was rapidly fading. Every silver lining has a cloud, said Tony and we all departed to think out what to do next. Total secrecy was maintained. Ken was in despair and Tony sacked me again! Worse was to come. A royal response was received at County Hall but not for Clarence House but in the form of a hand-written note from Buckingham Palace. Now we had a blunt response from the Queen pointing out that she would be delighted to attend on the day, in whatever capacity - perhaps assisting her mother!

the receipt of this letter reduced the Head of Protocol at the GLC, David Hamilton, (who was subsequently murdered) to apoplexy. As there were few precedents here, with a planned non-royal event turning into a full turnout of potentially the whole Royal Family, a secret Sunday summit meeting was called with Ken, Tony, Hamilton and me called to plan a way forward. Tony Banks, Ken and a few elected members of the Council met in private; with advisers & officers called in at the end to hear the decisions and strategy. Ken Livingstone & Tony Banks emerged to announce a complete u-turn: they had agreed that all the royals were welcome, and that the Queen would open the barrier. Tony proposed that this new high status event be properly celebrated by the GLC by staging a "royal regatta" (without any boats) consisting of a tea party with cakes for thousands of London pensioners. It was suggested that while the Queen opened the barrier, The Queen Mum could meet pensioners (like herself) in a large tea tent next to the barrier. The budget would be tripled, which would wrong-foot the Tories who could not possibly vote against a royal welcoming regatta! A master stroke from Ken. Royal enquiries and Whitehall officials would be invited to Ken's office to hear the news. One week later the officials convened at County Hal, to hear Ken and Tony's proposals. Many were opposed. Most were aghast! Some were speechless by the audacity, others were affronted by the lack of etiquette and protocol. None seemed to believe that the Thames Barrier would be opened by the Queen...and anyway there was little chance - according to the mandarins - that any royals would attend. At this point Ken began to read from the sunall A5 letters in his hand, containing a few elegant sentences in blue ink, which he had received he said from the royals. At one point a desperate officer suggested this might be a GLC trick. In response, it was pointed out that the Buckingham Palace letter was signed "R" and this was unlikely to mean Ruby, Rachel or Rita!

The atmosphere in the room was positively poisonous. Faced with this hostility from Whitehall Tony Banks suggested that we could always tell the Queen and Queen Mum to "bog orff" but that many of those present might end up in the Tower. Finally, all present agreed to co-operate and for Ken to issue invitations for the event. Only one hurdle remained. Who was to chaperone who? The officials insisted that each official guest must be partnered by a host of equal/similar standing or rank. Both Ken & Tony were not interested in this matter but agreed to the list being drawn up. A 100 VIPs (extra to the 1000 pensioners in the marquee) were successfully partnered with one exception. With great embarrassment the officials declared that there was no obvious match for the Queen Mother. Ken replied in a flash, that her chaperone would be Ethel, Ken's Mum! The resulting spluttering and protests were only silenced when Ken produced a second hand-written letter from HMQ2, announcing that she, the Queen Mum, was looking forward to meeting Ethel at the regatta.

The scene was set for a splendid day out. The Tories had almost voted against the regatta budget - but conceded defeat. To rub salt into the wound Ken announced that Maggie Thatcher would not be invited. On the day everyone was nervous. Ken was worried that the Queen might not approve of him or the GLC and even if she did could, of course, say little of a political nature. Whitehall were petrified because the pre-printed Queens speech contained a blank paragraph with the legend:

"Her Majesty will make remarks here as a gesture of personal thanks to the Greater London Council"

And so the proceedings, at the Thames Barrier, opened. Ken and the Queen were up on the barrier with the Queen making the most effusive and warm remarks upon the strategic importance of the LCC and its successor, the Greater London Council. The Queen Mother and Ken's mum were in the marquee tent taking tea with the pensioners. All appeared to be well. Or at least that is what I confirmed to Tony Banks, my boss. He was unconvinced. Indeed he said that if all was well; why was the Royal car preparing to leave the marquee in the middle of the ceremony? I ran to the marquee just in time to see QE2 and Ethel getting into the Bentley - asserting that the GLC's rock cakes were too hard on the teeth (QE2) and that better cakes were to be had, according to Ethel, at the Members Restaurant on the terrace at County Hall. Breaking all the protocols and security the royal car began to move off slowly. The Head of GLC protocol and me reported to Tony Banks that QE2 had kidnapped Ken's mum or the other way around. In any event they were returning to an almost deserted County Hall, for tea and buns. Tony's immediate response was to head off the car before departure and instruct the driver to take the long, scenic route back to County Hall.

The Head of Protocol (David) was apoplectic - after all the Queen Mum is ranked as a head of state - with all the ceremonial strappings, red carpet and the like. At County Hall we would be lucky to find someone to open the door! David Hamilton and me left in a GLC car, at speed, in the hope that at least the GLC cake chefs could be alerted, perhaps a Deputy Chairman with chain could greet the royal car and perhaps even the red carpet rolled out. Sadly, the only official with ceremonial chain who could be found was the worse for wear in the County Hall bar. No matter. He was bundled into a morning suit, tied by his cummerbund onto a handy GLC column, and decorated with the Chairman's gold chain of office. As the Queen Mum and Ethel ascended the GLC staircase (no red carpet) the welcoming Chairman, now vertically asleep, was animated into a reverential bow, by the two GLC security guards who were holding him up. Thankfully, nobody seemed to notice. Ethel showed the Queen Mum into the river terrace restaurant (where several gateaux had been laid out with tea). The Queen Mum, always mindful of her privacy, closed the restaurant doors upon the growing gaggle of officials with the final words "we wish to be alone". And so they were (alone) for 70 minutes! Outside, more and more security men arrived to discover that Ethel and QE2 really were alone - and they were locked out. Calls from the barrier suggested that Ken believed his mum had been kidnapped, and in a way she had.

A few hours later the two ladies emerged from the GLC tea room, smiled graciously at us all, and descended the stairs towards the royal car. Little was overheard except one remark "Goodness do you have that trouble with Ken? Well, my daughter can be difficult at times." As both ladies reached the Bentley, the Queen Mum stepped in and asked how Ethel would get home. Ethel replied that Ken worked here but that she lived in the East End. "Where?" said QE2. "Myrtle Street" said Ethel! "Well, we'll drop you orff." said QE2; and the royal car disappeared over Westminster Bridge heading for Myrtle Street.

When Tony Banks returned to County Hall he demanded to know what had happened, as did half the security services. Unfortunately, the sight of a half unrolled red carpet, a collapsed Deputy Chairman in gold chain, a restaurant with demolished gateaux - was not an uplifting sight. Tony's loyal secretary, Sumi, let me know that I had been sacked again - but should return next week as normal. "He'll miss you, you'll see." said Sumi. Well, I miss him now, as do many of the Arts and Sports companies in the capital who know him. "Good old Banksie" said Chris Mullin. Goodbye Tony. What a legacy!

Dr. Alan Tomkins
Chief Executive, InterChange Studios
Chairman, Arts for Labour

Formerly Arts Policy Advisor to Tony Banks at the Greater London Council 1981-1986. E-mail: chiefexecutive@interchange.org.uk

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