Here’s one event I’m glad I missed. The Royal Society of Chemistry yesterday served out gruel to hungry Londoners after recreating the recipe from Victorian sources. It’s a curious stunt for a learned society, but a creative way to generate press coverage of their imminent report “The Vital Ingredient: chemical science and engineering for sustainable food”.

The unappealing porridge, described as ‘barely-palatable’ by the RSC, is made from water, oats, milk and onion. Its most famous connoisseur was Oliver Twist, who famously asked for more. Londoners yesterday queued to receive a helping of slop from a Mr Bumble lookalike on the steps of Burlington House, while a nutritionist explained the effects of a diet based solely on gruel.

One sampler told the BBC : ""In this weather it’s the best thing to have. I’d have this for breakfast every morning. It’s just like porridge." Exactly. Which is why I wouldn’t touch it with somebody else’s bargepole. Did anyone manage to get along to the event?