WHEN the previous administration invited the rest of the world’s inhabitants to come and live in Britain, the official line was that only a few thousand talented people would actually take up the kind offer.

The Government spiel went something like this... not only would we be blessed with the finest scientists, doctors and diplomats but the cultural benefits would be as numerous as the grains of sand on the beach. All right, all right… anyone can make a mistake. Tony Blair’s sums were slightly out. He actually managed to increase the population of these islands by three-and-a-half million and that’s one heck of a lot of scientists, doctors and diplomats – except it’s not, of course.

This country has always welcomed migrants but in years gone by – unlike now – they tended to bring something to their adopted country other than an outstretched hand. A fine example is the case of Sally Lunn, a young French Huguenot refugee who came to Bath, Somerset, from the seaport town of La Rochelle in 1680.

She bequeathed to that delightful spa city the Lunn bun, a delicacy based on the French brioche.

In fact, it’s still going strong today as I discovered during a recent stay in that picturesque city.

I wonder – what will our successors look back on in 350 years’ time?