What's your earliest memory?
My earliest memory was of standing, holding my father's hand and in tears as my mother went off in a taxi. I later understood that she was actually going to hospital to have my brother Tim who is 2 years and 4 months younger than me and now a retired teacher also living in Luton. I have other clear memories of around that time but cannot date them so accurately. One very vivid memory was of sitting in an air raid shelter (Anderson Shelter) in our next door neighbour's garden in Norwood, South London as London was being bombed. I could see flames in the distance from buildings burning near the centre of the city.
What do you wish they'd taught you at school, but didn't?
I wish I had been taught to speak and understand French at primary school. After seven years of French at grammar school I can now get by but I am not fluent and would like to be so.
Ignore what you're doing now - if you could do any job in the world, what would it be and why?
If I had not been a politician I would like to have been a serious journalist and writer. I have always been fascinated by politics and the world of ideas. I have written much in the last 40 years, but would have liked to have written much more.
Of all the places you've been in your life, which would you recommend to a stranger?
I am sure there is no better place in the world than London where I have worked for most of my life. As Dr Johnson said "He who is tired of London is tired of life", and I must say I agree with him.
If you could pass one new law tomorrow, what would it be and why?
I would immediately make all long term care for the elderly free of charge and paid for out of general taxation. More and more elderly people are being forced to pay for their care by selling their homes and using up all their savings. Long term care should simply be free, like the health service.
You can invite three people - living or dead, from any period - round for dinner. Who are they and why?
One would have been Johan Sebastian Bach, but I imagine he couldn't speak English and my German would not be good enough. I would therefore have Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who was second only to Churchill in the vote for the greatest Briton of all time. My second choice would be John Maynard Keynes, the greatest economist of modern times. His advice, if followed, would have saved us from the economic crisis we are now facing. Thirdly I would have Daniel Barenboim, the wonderful musician who has created a youth orchestra of young people from Palestine and Israel.
If you were stuck on Death Row, what would you pick for your final meal?
As a peaceful and non-violent person I hope I would never find myself in such a situation, and I certainly do not believe in the death penalty. However I think I would have pasta carbonara and a top bottle of Barolo, one of Italy's greatest wines.
And if you could write your own epitaph or come up with famous last words in advance, what would you pick?
"I loved every day of life and would happily have lived a little longer!"
If you could have any super power, what would it be and why?
To be a virtuoso musician, probably a classical guitarist and perform exquisite music.
How do you relax?
I relax visiting my grandchildren, collecting Victorian glassware and listening to music with a glass of excellent wine.
What's your greatest fear?
Nuclear war.
What was the last little treat you bought for yourself, or someone else? (Anything from a cream cake to a luxury car)
I recently bought a top of the range (second-hand) Vauxhall Omega, a superb car.
If you had to give up something tomorrow, what would you find it hardest to live without? (Favourite food or drink, pastime, relationship)
Obviously my family comes first, but of the pleasures in life I would dread having to live without music.
What's the most important lesson that life has taught you so far?
That the overwhelming majority of human beings are essentially decent and if one behaves well towards one's fellow human beings it is rewarding both to them and to oneself.
If you could leap forward to the year 2050, what would you expect, or hope, to find there?
I would hope that by 2050 the world had become peaceful and environmentally sustainable.
Favourite films of all time (maximum of three, and why?)
Bicycle Thieves (Vitorio De Sica 1948) - this is the most moving film about the ravages of poverty and what it does to people - a great film made in immediate post-war Italy with real people and not actors. "Cabaret" was a brilliant portrait of inter war Germany with on one side the liberal and racy world of artists and entertainers and on the other the growing threat of fascism and Nazi brutality. My third film is "Casablanca" - just a superb film, brilliantly written and acted, with the great Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman. (It would be easier to choose 33 films!)
Favourite books of all time (maximum of three, and why?)
My favourite books have the same problem, choosing just three. My first would be "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding which shows through a group of stranded children on a desert island how fascism, bullying and terror can overwhelm democracy, reason and humanity if we are not careful - a parable which remains relevant today. My second book would be "The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler, the American detective writer. Chandler was just a brilliant writer and he wrote wonderful atmosphere into all his books, several of which have been made into great films too. My third book, which I have not yet read but always intended to, is "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire" by Edward Gibbon, an English classic from which my father often quoted.
Favourite albums/songs of all time (maximum of three, and why?)
My great love of music is actually focussed on jazz and classical music although I do enjoy some popular music too. I would for my three choose the St Matthew Passion by J.S. Bach, one of the great choral masterpieces, Der Rosenkavalier, the opera by Richard Strauss, and "Breakfast, Dance and BBQ" by the Count Basie orchestra, a wonderful live concert recording from the late 1950s. (Here again, it would be easier to choose 300 pieces of music than 3!)
Websites you use/value the most (maximum of three, please avoid myspace, youtube and other major players, we're looking for unusual sites that others might want to take a look at)
I am not really an internet browser but I do check out good bottles of wine from time to time. Google is about all I can manage! I have never seen myspace, youtube etc, I do however have my own website which illustrates all my varied activities as a Member of Parliament. This was made up for me and kept up to date by Francis, one of my staff who is a whiz with computers.
Favourite restaurants (within 20 miles of Luton) (maximum of three)
Favourite restaurant - Villa Ada, the small Italian restaurant at the church end of Guildford Street is really my favourite in Luton. For larger family occasions within walking distance of my home we also visit the Leaside Hotel, which is again very good. There are many good Indian restaurants in the town, many of which I have visited.
Have you got a favourite shop within 20 miles of Luton town centre? Why is it so good? If your favourite shop is further away, tell us why it's worth making the journey?
My favourite shop, if it can be called that, is the Wine Society showroom at Stevenage. I have been a member of the Wine Society for many years. It really is an Aladdin's cave for the wine enthusiast. Another favourite of mine is Stanford's map shop in Longacre near Covent Garden. I just love maps and buy them from Stanford's every year for my holidays.
You're taking friends or family out for the day, but you can't go more than 20 miles from Luton. What's your recommendation and why?
My favourite place to visit in Luton is undoubtedly the new Discovery Centre at Stockwood Park. I was a guest speaker at its opening, and it has been beautifully arranged and shows fascinating glimpses of Luton's history and heritage.
What's your best kept entertainment or social life secret, or guilty pleasure? (eg TV programme that you love but hardly anyone else watches, special occasion restaurant or website that you keep going back to again and again, unfashionable pursuit that you really enjoy) Tell us about it...
My "best kept entertainment or social life secret or guilty pleasure" are really rather dull. I like politics programmes, music programmes, science programmes and detective features on television (New Tricks, Frost, Morse, Taggart etc) as well as sport of course. I also try to watch the Antiques Roadshow every week as I have a modest interest in collecting Victorian glassware.
Which person in the public eye would you most like to meet and why?
The person in the public eye I would most like to meet is probably Barack Obama. He is highly intelligent, very sound and I am sure would be a superb and stimulating conversationalist. I would also venture some political suggestions to him if we met!
What do you go out of your way to avoid? (eg TV programme, style of food, type of music or performance) Tell us about it...
There are a good number of things I go out of my way to avoid! There are a number of foods, especially tomatoes and similar vegetables. As for TV programmes, on occasion I have had the misfortune to stumble into a room and see something called Big Brother which is beyond belief! I could provide a long list of television programmes which are not for me I am afraid but I guess these might be popular so it is best I don't mention them!
Kelvin Hopkins MP
