While Mohamed Al Fayed spent his final years in a dark fog of dementia, his life was defined by madness and often jaw-dropping excess.
One of the many memorable encounters I had with him involved Viagra, deer testicles, teddy bears and the Sultan of Brunei. At that stage I was editor of the London Evening Standard and had started the “Dispossessed” campaign – starting a charity to help the least fortunate in the capital.
It became the most successful newspaper campaign to raise funds outside of times of national crisis or natural disaster. I had him in my sights to make a donation as a prominent stakeholder in London, as the owner of Harrods and Fulham Football Club.
