I freewheel down Half Moon Street, five minutes early for my lunch with Edward Bonham Carter (yes, Helena’s his sister) and slightly surprised by the choice of venue. Bonham Carter, who is stepping down from the board of Jupiter Asset Management after more than 20 years with the group, has suggested a Japanese restaurant, Kiku, in the heart of Mayfair.
Having secured my bike, I look up to see a stylishly disheveled figure (pale green chinos, blue sweater, orange neckerchief, Allbirds “comfort” shoes) pause at the door, don a face mask and enter. This is a favoured haunt of the hedge fund set — and that’s not Bonham Carter, who is half financial establishment, yes, but as his attire suggests is also a gently rebellious outsider.
Kiku, in Japanese, means to ask or listen. What a neat choice for an interview, I think, but in the first 20 minutes it is Bonham Carter who is asking all the questions and doing all the listening — about my family, the reasons for my longstanding vegetarianism, an imminent house move, how I’ve stayed fit during lockdown, my view on the recently departed boss of a big bank.