When his Lordship came to town

Lord and Lady Cornwallis are loving their visit to India. After all, "my great great great great great grand uncle — the first Lord of Cornwallis — was India's first Governor General and did quite a bit to amend the land laws in the country. As far as I know, the rules he implemented more than 200 years ago were only amended recently," says the Lord. And proving that the `stiff upper lip' does not exist, he adds, "My uncle did quite a bit of good for India, if he didn't I'm not sure we would have been treated so well in India!"

In Hyderabad, the Lord, a former first Mason of England attended an event by the Masonic Lodge, admired the Charminar, the Chowmahalla and Falaknuma Palaces and the Salar Jung museum, while the Lady accompanied him on all these visits, she is loving the attention and luxury that comes with being Lady Cornwallis. "This is the first time I am travelling with him and I don't mind getting used to it!" she says with a twinkle in her eye.

The couple will move on to Bangalore where they will inaugurate The Cornwallis Old Age Home, of the many charities that the couple is involved with. "I laid the foundation to the home in 1998 and am now back to open it. Back home, I am actively involved with other charities including for people suffering from Alzheimer's and one for budding talent in sports." The Lords first wife unfortunately passed away from Alzheimer's.

Married for six years now, the love they share is evident. The Lady `darlings' him and tells him to at least pretend that he enjoys posing for pictures with her. For the 85- year old Lord, the most annoying bit of the relationship he shares with his wife is when she keeps repeating herself. "I have a hearing aid and even before I can register her first sentence, she thinks I pretend not to hear and repeats herself."

RENUKA VIJAY KUMAR