Sunningdale

Today was a very sad day.

After 41 years the UK' s National School of Government, formerly the Civil Service College, closed.

Leaving aside the politics the CSC was a central part of my life for 15 years - first as a student, then as a resident lecturer and finally as a visiting speaker. It taught me a lot in all of those roles and I know the same applies to many many others.

It was important to me to be there today, at Sunningdale Park, but also very disheartening, especially for so many of the admin staff that have worked so hard there whilst the lecturers have come and gone.