Alex Frere, dégustateur, keeps his nose in

The local newspaper in the Côte d’Or wine-making centre of Mâcon caught Alex Frere judging during this year's concours des grands vins de France.

Frere, former managing editor, and Michael Reupke, former editor-in-chief, have been judges at the competition for a number of years. Reupke, still overcoming the effects of his stroke, declined this year's invitation but intends to return to his favourite job in future, once he has regained some mobility and retuned his taste buds.

Although the job is unpaid he says he would not give it up “for all the expenses British parliamentarians have claimed or the perks Reuter directors have allotted themselves in the past year”. ■