The City Diary

It's Stobart time! Haulage firm Eddie Stobart, which is coming to the London Stock Exchange via a reverse takeover, has built up a huge following of truck fans during its 37-year history. But perhaps one of the company's more surprising fans is Chico from TV's 'X Factor'. The singer – who built up quite a following on the TV talent show in 2005 – tells us that he first noticed the trucks when touring up and down the UK. "I could see curvy women on the side of some of them, and I thought 'Wow! This is cool.'" he says. Since then, Chico has joined the Eddie Stobart Members Club and has even performed at Eddie Stobart-sponsored music events. In fact, he says he is so keen on the trucks that they inspired his forthcoming single. "Curvy Cola Bottle Body" is due to be released on 8 October.

Tillman still a good sport

Dapper clothing entrepreneur Harold Tillman, chairman of Jaeger, and Lord Coe might seem a surprising pairing – until you understand that Tillman, a few decades older than Coe, has always loved the company of sportsmen. A former King's Road drinking partner of a generation of Chelsea players, Tillman is now in a sober partnership with Coe, and is looking to boost the health clubs owned by Premier Sports, their joint venture. Coe and Tillman have also set up a fund to provide sporting facilities for deprived youngsters.

Jockey Club boys hot to trot for a case of Margaux

Over at sweeting's the luncheon haunt of the Old City establishment, one grandee luncher was bemoaning the cost of the wine. "No problem on my front, old boy" beamed his guest."The Jockey Club is having a bit of a re-stocking, and flogging a few cases orf to us members; filling me boots with port and claret..."

"That must be pricey," replied his host, "Not a bit of it... cases of Pomerol and Margaux for 150 quid – half the normal price of a bloody bottle" quipped the guest. Hats off to the men in the saddle at the august organisation.

Two-legged race for a charity ticket to ... nowhere

Is this the drabbest prize ever? Singapore Airlines is auctioning seats in cattle class. The airline is to fly the first A380 from its Singapore hub to Sydney, and some bright spark in the PR department reckoned it would be a good idea to hold a charity auction, starting 27 August, on eBay. "The auction will be for single, double and multiple seats in each class," but ever practical, the airline adds a tip for enthusiastic bidders: "Because all seats will be sold on a one-way basis, people wanting to fly on both legs of the first flight will need to bid twice."

After-dinner banking

We hear that coutts, whose most famous client (if certainly not the richest) is Her Majesty the Queen, is organising some Forum for Entrepreneurs dinners in October. Speakers will include Terrence Conran – who will be doing the talking, not the catering – and Andrew Neil, who will definitely not be doing the catering.

Kilt-edged opportunity

If you thought it was hedge fund managers that were the most highly paid people in the world, think again. Scots IT industry salaries are outstripping the highest paid City of London jobs if an ad posted by recruiting firm Elan is accurate. The ad was for a "server technical analyst" with proven skills in the finance sector. But the salary quoted was an extremely generous £5,000 to £100,000 an hour...

Lord Black may have to rely on his sole mate

Black watch: Can it get any worse for former 'Telegraph' owner Conrad Black? He is already facing sentencing after being convicted on three counts of fraud, and US prosecutors have now asked a federal judge to force him and two of his co-conspirators to forfeit $16.9m (£8.5m) to the government. Lord Black was also found guilty of obstructing the course of justice in a trial that ended last month. All three are on bail awaiting their sentencing on 30 November. The forfeits would be in addition to any fines or prison sentences the judge decides to impose on them. If shoes belonging to Barbara Amiel, Lord Black's wife, suddenly turn up on eBay, you will know why.

Email your best diary stories to a.murray-watson@independent.co.uk for a chance to win a bottle of 12-year-old single malt from Bruichladdich – the progressive Hebridean Distillers