Bunhill: First Bunhill/Scrooge Award

IT'S the time of year when cost-conscious managers can really prove their machismo. The office Christmas party is a challenging opportunity for penny- pinching managers to ration the mince pies and water down the mulled wine.

The first Bunhill/Scrooge award of 1993 goes to Reed Business Publishing, the Sutton-based arm of the Reed- Elsevier publishing collossus, which makes annual profits of more than pounds 400m. An internal memo to managers from John Matthews, chief executive, reads, 'We have investigated various venues in and around Sutton, but have found none that compare with the advantages of holding the party here, at Quadrant House.' Ho ho ho.

'We have the internal expertise and resources in-house to make this party something to remember,' writes Mr Matthews, who is allocating a princely pounds 10 per head towards the festivities.

'We have a highly skilled committee with experts on a host of ideas for making this an expectional (sic) evening,' says Mr Matthews, who will doubtless be dipping into one of his own magazines, Caterer and Hotelkeeper, for seasonal tips. He signs off, urging his cohorts to pass on the message to their staff, thus helping communications 'enourmously' (sic).

More examples of Yuletide parsimony and/or illiteracy, please . . .