The Bohra sect into which Noon was born is minuscule in numbers but big in achievements. They are mainly traders and businessmen who have a reputation for honesty and fair dealing. Women have high status in Bohra society and education is much valued and sought after. Charitable work and social service are greatly encouraged. Noon's life has clearly been moulded by his family background. His father died when he was a child and he decided to make something of his life in spite of that handicap. Near his ancestral home in Bhiwani Mandi, Rajasthan, he has established a first rate hospital in memory of his mother. In the central lobby on a plaque is the well known saying of the Prophet: Paradise lies at the feet of the mother. The hospital is open to all, regardless of caste, creed, colour or race. In the 1920s Noon's grandfather mortgaged the family home to start a hospital on the same principle. He has also built a sports stadium, a community centre for Dalits, a local police station and small dams to conserve water which is a precious commodity in a desert area.

The Noon Hospital was opened by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, a princess educated at a Roman Catholic convent school, who led a Bharatiya Janata Party government in Rajasthan. She flew in by helicopter and declared that from the air the hospital looked like a palace. And what tells its own story is the fact that Hindu, Muslim and Sikh priests blessed the hospital before the inauguration. This says much about the man behind the enterprise; an enterprise not to make profit but an enterprise of service to one's fellow beings.

Noon, With a View makes no specific mention of the fact that Noon's daughters are married to Hindus and his wife Mohini Kent, journalist and film-maker, comes from a distinguished Sikh family. He is steeped in a secular, tolerant ambience.

John Gummer has placed his finger on the heart of the matter when he states that Gulam Noon is a great leader for moderate Muslim thought. And Lord Sainsbury, in his foreword to this book, says that the author is a man of total integrity. Professor Lord Parekh, a man of no mean integrity himself, states that Noon's courage, determination, integrity, and moral transparency shine through the book.

In Britain, the country of which he is a citizen, Gulam Noon's philanthropy and social service has been recognised by the state, by universities and by his peers in the world of business. Ram Gidoomal, Christian activist and entrepreneur of Sindhi antecedents, numbered Noon as one of the chief Maharajahs of the United Kingdom.

Noon's family had a sweet shop in Bombay and following his father he took over the running of the modest establishment. He moved to England and started in Southall. He records that the first week's takings were a mere £68. His heart sank but he persevered. With the passage of time Royal Sweets and Noon Products became synonymous with quality. He insisted on scrupulous hygiene and the highest standards in terms of raw materials and production. The plant where vegetarian and non-vegetarian food was produced and frozen had the latest hi-tech machinery. This was a remakable leap, one is tempted to say revolution, in the history of mass produced Asian food.

He accepts that he has had his failures. He lost money in America. His travel agency business was a colossal flop. But he says that he'll consider going back to the travel business if tomorrow the right deal came along. He's a card carrying member of the Never-say-Die party.

And now to the Labour Party and his £250,000 loan to it via Blair's fundraiser Lord Levy. A whole chapter is devoted to what became known as the Cash for Honours affair. He provides a fulsome account of what happened and goes into the minutest details. Never, he says, was there any question of him advancing the loan in the hope of getting into the Lords. There was not even a wink and a nudge. His letter dated August 11, 2006 to the Chairman of the House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee spells out his position clearly and unambiguously. On July 20, 2007 the Crown Prosecution Service announced that no prosecutions would be made since no agreement to exchange money for peerages could be proved. Crucially it was stated that each of the businessmen on Tony Blair's list of potential peers was a credible candidate for a peerage. Nevertheless, the strain on Noon and his family was immense. Once bitten twice shy, he vowed never to donate a penny to any political party. However, when Gordon Brown moved into Number 10, Noon calmed down and decided to write off his loan and convert it into a donation. On July 24, 2007 Tony Blair, after he had been appointed to his peace mission in the Middle East, wrote to Noon most affectionately. One sentence is significant: You have been such a good friend to me, even though I have put you through such difficulty. Extremely gracious indeed. Equally gracious is Noon. He praises the  correctness and courtesy of Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates and his investigating team.

What I find appealing about this book is the manner in which Noon speaks his mind. He shoots from the hip. The radical imams will not sing his praises. He says that they should be expelled from this country since they are spreading hatred and divisiveness in British society. He has strong views about those Muslim girls who insist on covering themselves from head to toe in the streets of Britain.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is not spared either. He is criticised for suggesting that aspects of Sharia Law be included in the legal system of Great Britain. His solemn advice to all those who are unhappy or uneasy with Britain is simply this: Go to a country where you'd be happy and comfortable.

Noon likes the good life and has a passion for cricket. His collection includes 116 autographed cricket bats. He's an amazing character. I hope that his words of wisdom and hard commonsense are heard in the upper house in the not too distant future.

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