Bob Hand, managing director of consultancy Affinity Solutions, was surprised to be invited to dinner with Prince Charles and Camilla.

The reason for this somewhat unusual invitation was his involvement with Age Concern through its affinity scheme. But what would he say when Charles asked the inevitable question, "So what do you do?" Surely trying to explain what an affinity deal is might not be the greatest conversation piece?

"I could just say I am a horticulturalist," Hand told Backchat.

Topics