J Nash

AP marked the first time I appeared in print as J Nash, initial only, a title I've subsequently adopted with official gusto. Despite now "be"ing J Nash to the exclusion of all other hails (with the possible exception of, "Look out, you're about to be knocked over by a car again, you burbling jabberwock") it came about completely by accident.

The (a-ho) initial mention was in Our Brilliant Year 1994, where I deftly avoided answering any questions by rattling on about fearfully setting my place at the oaken table of the mighty beings and saving The Pope, then refused to give a mark for the year because it was unfinished at press time. I'm dead popular at garden parties, me.

The secret origin is, of course, that I merely used "J Nash," initial only, as the full thing would have pushed the intro off the page and I'd've had to cut it.

And that's the end of that mystery!