CITY DIARY

Lists of the rich raise hackles. But while many secretly enjoy featuring in them, just as many would rather not. Business Age's latest list has already caused an outburst from Sir Michael Richardson, executive chairman of Hambro Magan, who has just retired as chairman of Smith New Court and is displeased to see himself feature at No 147 with assets of pounds 125m.

But perhaps the worst-timed inclusion was Lord White of Hull, said to be worth pounds 48m. He died last month. Business Age's editor received a spoof letter of complaint bearing the return address: Lord White of Hull, c/o Mr Jesus Christ, Golden Gate, Heavens Above.

The fax's sender was one Tom Rubython - an ex-editor of Business Age. Rubython took time out from beavering away on his new Sunday newsaper, which is due to be launched in March.

Ever wonder how you measure up in technological prowess? According to Gerhard Schulmeyer, chief executive of Siemens Nixdorf, the answer is simple: it depends on your age.

He told delegates to the IT Forum in Paris yesterday that anyone over the age of 70 has trouble operating a hi-fi system. If you are 60 or older, programming a VCR is a trial. For those aged 50 or more computers are a mystery. Anyone older than 40 has difficulty dealing with online networks and the Internet, while 30-somethings are hopeless at computer games. Under 30? You win.

World record-breaking swimmer, Alison Streeter, has no plans to take it easy following her epic 10 hour 58 minute crossing of the English Channel earlier this week.

The 31-year-old foreign exchange dealer from Standard Chartered swims the Channel as frequently - this week saw her thirty-second crossing - as others catch a bus.

"The worst bit of the swim," she says, "was having to start of in France in pitch dark and trying to find a rock to kick off from when you can't see in front of your nose."

The swim did have its compensations, though. She raised nearly pounds 20,000 for the St Piers Lingfield school, from sponsors Reuters and National Grid, and managed to defy the currents to finish in Dover Harbour.

"It's far more fun than going down the wine bar and getting pissed," she said.

Last weekend's Lords Taverners' cricket match at the home of Victor Blank, chairman and chief executive of Charterhouse, continues to pull in those that fancy themselves a dab hand with the willow. Teams from BZW, Charterhouse, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, Schroders, Smith New Court, NM Rothschild, Hambros and Hoare Govett gathered to do battle. Cricket-mad Blank tells me his contribution at the wicket was seven runs not out and one run not out. The day's six-aside competition, the fourth of its kind, has raised nearly pounds 80,000 for the charity. This year Charterhouse took the honours from Smith New Court in the final. Perhaps now it has a US owner, Merrill Lynch, SNC's eyes have been straying from the ball.