Avanti boss admits to rumble in the jungle

Space craft, or space crafty?

SPACECRAFT, it seems, are like very expensive buses. British satellite firm Avanti waited years to launch its latest piece of kit into space, for a mere £280m, only to be outdone a few days later by Nasa landing its £1.6bn probe on Mars.

The company landed a £900,000 deal that way, says Mr Williams. “It was our biggest to date at the time”.

Shareholders will be relieved to know the Telegraph inspected Avanti’s latest rocket before launch and can vouch that it is real.

Rumbled: Avanti's jungle antics

LUCKILY Mr Williams avoided the rumble in the jungle that accompanied Avanti’s first satellite launch in 2010. It is traditional for the chief executives of companies that use the Arianespace launch station in French Guiana to take a refreshing dip in the sea. Or rather be dipped.

But Mr Williams wasn’t feeling in the mood. When executives tried to bundle him into the ocean, he lashed out, “fighting like a caged lion” and landing a few punches in the process.

For some reason, no one tried to bundle the boss this time around.

Murray sets the gold standard for Sir Merv

AMONG those cheering Andy Murray to victory over Roger Federer on Sunday was Sir Mervyn King, Governor of the Bank of England. The BBC commentator quipped: “Sir Mervyn King is here. He knows a lot about Swiss gold I should think.” Happily it was British gold that was riding high. But it’s good to know that the European downturn isn’t keeping Sir Merv too busy at the weekend.