Wheeling, dealing, whining, dining

They’re a funny lot at the Royal Fine Art Commission, that body which sounds off to all and sundry on design projects.

Architectural practice David Marks Julia Barfield has received a perplexing letter from the commission. It refers to a meeting set up in April for the practice to present its Millennium Wheel idea for London’s South Bank.

Apparently the architects postponed the meeting until design details were more developed. But all David Marks’ suggestions of dates have since been refused.

And now Marks knows why. The commission explains in its letter that making a presentation is rather like being asked to dinner. Once you refuse, you don’t get asked again.

Marks has obviously committed a grave breach of etiquette. If he ever gets the chance to enter the commission’s hallowed portals he’d better keep his elbows off the table.